The dander of sport's minister Jim McDaid is evidently up at the moment. Speaking at the National Sports Development Conference in Newcastle, Co Down this week, the Donegal man set out his stall once again regarding drugs in sport.

"We do not want to see young people succumb to the blandishments of those Frankensteins in the sewers of the sporting world who would have them sacrifice their future health for a moment of stolen glory."

Spicey stuff, indeed. McDaid goes on.

"I have said that the Sydney Olympics next year will not be judged in the annals of sport by the facilities provided, important though these always are, by the size of the crowds attending, by the number of millions who watch them on television, or by the records achieved by the athletes. No the Sydney Olympics will be judged on their integrity."

If only.