Irish athlete fails drugs test

Irish athlete fails drugs test

Hendricken has denied taking any banned substance

1500 metre runner Geraldine Hendricken has been confirmed as the Irish athlete to have failed a random drugs test.

The Athletics Association of Ireland (AAI) announced on Monday that an out-of-competition test on an unnamed athlete had revealed traces of the banned steroid nandrolone.

Hendricken, who made a huge breakthrough in 2002 cutting her 1500m personal best by more than 14 seconds to 4:02.58, has denied taking any banned substance.

The athlete returned a positive 'A' sample taken out of competition in Ireland on 10 February this year.

Hendricken, who is now suspended, will be entitled to an oral hearing and the 'B' sample will now go forward for testing.

She spoke of her shock at learning the news.

"Obviously there is some sort of problem but I don't know why and I don't know what it's all about," Hendricken told the Irish Times.

Paul Brizzel: Selected for World Indoors

"This is the nightmare of every athlete and that's all I can know about it at the moment.

"I check all the food supplements that I take to make sure they are clean and I have honestly never taken anything illegal".

Athletics Ireland was informed last Friday about the results of Hendricken's test.

After the examination of the B-sample, the case will be referred to the IAAF who normally hand out two-year bans for this type of offence.

Hendricken produced a remarkable season in 2002 and was ranked 14th in the world in the 1500m.

The Carlow woman is the first Irish athlete to have failed a drugs test involving an anabolic steroid.

Meanwhile, Paul Brizzel and Paul McKee have been named on a 13-strong Irish team for the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham later this month.

Brizzel is selected in the 200m while McKee will compete in the 400m.

Both men have been included in the 4x400m relay squad.

Irish team: (men) 60m G Ryan, M Howard; 200m P Brizzel, G Ryan; 400m P McKee, D McCarthy; 1500m J Nolan; 4x400m P McKee, G Ryan, D McCarthy, P Brizzel, A Burke, D Tobin.
(women) 200m C Sheehy; 400m K Shinkins; 1500m M Lynch; 3000m M Lynch, M McCambridge; 60H D O'Rourke.