IRISH middleweight Michael O’Reilly is out of the Olympic Games. Ahead of Rio 2016 he failed a drug test and the Olympic Council of Ireland today confirmed he would no longer contest the provisional suspension he received.
O’Reilly admits he unintentionally took a supplement that may have contained a prohibited substance. He added he was given this supplement by someone who was unrelated to his team or association. He apologised to his team-mates, the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA), Sport Ireland, the Olympic Council of Ireland and all his supporters.
In a statement the IABA said, “We are very disappointed that Michael may have taken any supplement without consulting the IABA High Performance Support Team. Educating athletes of the risks proposed by supplements is provided to all our boxers as part of the High Performance Programme.
“We can confirm that Michael has now left the Olympic Village and will have no further involvement in the Rio Olympic Games. The Olympic Council of Ireland will be making arrangements for him to return to Ireland as soon as possible.
“The IABA is fully committed to the Irish Anti-Doping Rules. Michael’s adverse test result initiated a process as set out in those rules. This process remains underway and until it is completed we are not in a position to comment further.
“In the meantime the remaining boxers, coaches and support staff at the Olympic Games in Rio are our primary focus. We are committed to providing them with all necessary support as they represent Ireland at the Olympics.”
The middleweight hadn’t boxed at all at Rio 2016, his first contest was scheduled for Thursday (August 11). One of Ireland’s medal prospects, he won’t box at all in Rio after this anti-doping violation.
