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TURNBULL
OFF THE HOOK - IRISH SPORTS COUNCIL ON IT? by Malcolm McCausland |
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Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2005 Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2004 Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2003 Bob Mullan Motors 5K Series 2001
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After months of anguish Belfast athlete Gareth Turnbull is free to compete again after he was declared innocent of taking the drug testosterone after a positive test last September. Yesterday morning the man who has won medals at both European Championships and World University Games opened his e-mail to find the following message the Irish Sports Council (ISC). It simply read “Please find attached copy of the Determination for the Gareth Turnbull case from the Chairman of the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel.” Attached was a 69 page document chronicling his case but most importantly of all for the former Irish 1500m champion it concluded that he had not been found guilty of taking a proscribed drug and was free to compete again. But Turnbull who faced a two year suspension from the sport feels that he was “pursued with extreme zeal” after the Drug Control Centre, Kings College, London (“DCC”) where his sample was tested had advised the ISC as long ago as 24th October 2005 that the test result was inconclusive. Now the body which governs sport in the Republic possibly faces a law suit from the athlete which may run into seven figures. His family have reportedly already shelled out £100,000 to prove his innocence and are determined that no one else should be put through the anguish and frustration they have suffered. Gareth Turnbull (Photo: Bill McLeod) Turnbull is also angry with the fact that it took the ISC over eight months to notify him of the results of the test carried out on 30 September 2005. He also feels he has been treated shabbily and that the manner in which he was notified of the outcome of his appeal was unprofessional and impersonal.
The Drugman Always Knocks Twice Nobody likes having to get out of bed in the morning to open the door. Especially when it is only 7:50 am and you were out late drinking with your mates the night before. But if that was not bad enough, worse was to follow for Gareth Turnbull when that knock was to prove to be the start of the most tortuous year in his life. The notes along with the drug test taken on 30 September 2005 read “arrived at the Athlete’s home at 07.50 a.m. There were several knocks at the door but they provoked no activity from within until 08.20 a.m. when a housemate of the Athlete staggered to the door in a sleepy condition. The housemate went to wake the Athlete who slowly descended the stairs with half-closed eyes.” But those eyes have been rudely opened in the following twelve months as Turnbull has found to his cost that in sport you are guilty until proved innocent. Being tested is a fairly regular occurrence for an athlete of his standard and he thought no more about it. Earlier this year on June 12 Turnbull was in his car when he got a call from a Southern number which he recognised. His heart jumped. “I was thought it was a call-up to Ireland’s Europa Cup team. I couldn’t believe it and had to do an double take when I was told I was being accused of a doping offence from the previous September,” said Turnbull. It had taken the authorities over eight months to inform him yet he was given only 48 hours to adduce evidence to prove his innocence. Turnbull turned for assistance to Andrew Coonan who had represented Cian O’Connor following Waterford Crystal’s positive test at the Athens Olympics. A case was quickly put together and when the test on the “B” sample also proved positive the matter went to the Irish Sport Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee. The hearing took three days with the Turnbull legal team putting forward complex scientific evidence as well as expert testimony. Usually the panel can give a verdict within a few days but on this occasion they decided that no decision would be made until September to allow time to consider the evidence. In the meantime the ban from competition would lifted allowing Turnbull the opportunity to gain the qualification standard for the European Championships. Unfortunately, a wet and cold evening in Cardiff put paid to those hopes with the St. Malachy’s clubman finishing well outside the required mark for Gothenburg. The athletics world has been unanimous in welcoming the result. Loughborough’s Director of Athletics, George Gandy, who gave evidence by videolink on Turnbull’s behalf at the appeal hearing was quick to comment. “Fantastic, really fantastic! I believed, no I knew, all along he was innocent. I’m just sad that it has taken so long for them to come to this decision,” said the former British Olympic Coach. Dermot Donnelly, for more than a decade the North’s top distance runner also welcomed the news but introduced a note of reality. “I was really not surprised that the outcome was positive when we did not hear anything in September. Obviously something was wrong in their case. “But I’m just a bit concerned if he will be able to get back to his 1500 metres best of 3:36 given the time he has been off,” said the former Annadale star. But relieved is not the only emotion felt by the former St. Malachy’s College pupil. “Relief is only a small part. Relief would suggest you got off with something but I haven’t got off with anything because I didn’t do anything wrong. “It’s just an overwhelming sense of outrage that a system that as an athlete you put your faith and trust can be so vindictive as to chase after you for nine months without your knowledge. “And then for three months taking this thing to the highest level and pursuing it with an extreme zeal trying to put an end to your career,” said an obviously aggrieved Turnbull. Paddy Turnbull, the athlete’s father, was also angry with the way his son had been treated and after spending reportedly £100,000 to prove him innocent was looking for some redress. “Someone is going to pay. If the whole family had not gathered together and supported Gareth his athletics career would be finished and there would be a blemish against name for ever. “There is something wrong with a system in which you are guilty until proven innocent and it takes eight months to tell you the result of a test but you only have 48 hours to put together a complex and highly technical legal argument in your defence,” said the Balmoral resident. Meanwhile Turnbull will heads to the track this morning to continue his preparations for the Irish European Cross-Country Trials next month.
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