Gaa players need to be on red alert when it comes to drugs issue keogan

Meath back Donal Keogan has warned that inter-county players need to be on full alert when it comes to consuming medicines.

The Rathkenny player says the onus is on players themselves to find out as much possible about what is allowed and what is not.

 “Every team has a team doctor and the GPA are very informative in that area of drugs in sport and performance-enhancing drugs,” he said.

 “I think every squad, every year gets a talk from the GPA and leaflets of what is regulated and what sites you can go on to visit and see what medication is allowed and what is banned.”

A science graduate from Trinity College, Dublin, Keogan is currently working on his PhD  and while he is better informed than most about what drugs are, and are not allowed, he still has to thread carefully through what can be a minefield for any inter-county player.

“You really have to be careful,” he added. “If you are on anything you have to contact the team’s medicial staff and they can sort it out, look up the official line, and get back to you.”

Keogan added that the Meath payers have been tested a number of times, including out of competition. “The testers have come to training sessions and took a few lads away, they are free to come to training anytime they want.”

The issue of illegal substances in GAA circles has hit the headlines again after Monaghan player Thomas Connolly received a two-year ban for the use of steroids. Monaghan manager Malachy O'Rourke claimed that players were not 'educated' enough on the issue. 

Keogan was talking to the media ahead of next Sunday's Leinster SFC encounter against Westmeath at Croke Park, 2pm. 

The Rathkenny man Meath said there were plenty of reasons for optimism in the Meath camp despite the criticisms that the defence was far too fragile in the first-round win over Wicklow. 

See an full interview with Donal Keogan in this week’s Meath Chronicle.