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14/08/2007
IFA To Tackle Drugs Testing Issue
The Irish Football Association (IFA) is losing out on £6m funding because there is no drug-testing programme in operation in local football.
It has been reported that £6 million in National Lottery money is being held back by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland until the IFA takes action.
IFA Chief Executive Howard Wells has said that the issue of drug-testing will be tackled.
The costs involved in introducing proper testing would be a major concern for many struggling Irish League clubs.
Mr Wells said the issue could not be ignored simply because there was no evidence that drug-taking was a problem.
Mr Wells also said that there is no evidence of a drugs problem because the IFA do not have any sort of testing programme for domestic football.
The £6 million is part of a scheme funded by the National Lottery and the money is controlled by the Sports Council.
A spokesman for the Sports Council said that there could be no halfway house on this matter.
Other sports such as rugby and GAA have made the necessary provision to put in place credible drug-testing programmes.
(SB/SP)
It has been reported that £6 million in National Lottery money is being held back by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland until the IFA takes action.
IFA Chief Executive Howard Wells has said that the issue of drug-testing will be tackled.
The costs involved in introducing proper testing would be a major concern for many struggling Irish League clubs.
Mr Wells said the issue could not be ignored simply because there was no evidence that drug-taking was a problem.
Mr Wells also said that there is no evidence of a drugs problem because the IFA do not have any sort of testing programme for domestic football.
The £6 million is part of a scheme funded by the National Lottery and the money is controlled by the Sports Council.
A spokesman for the Sports Council said that there could be no halfway house on this matter.
Other sports such as rugby and GAA have made the necessary provision to put in place credible drug-testing programmes.
(SB/SP)
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