Irish fight fans have looked on with interest as Lamont Peterson and Andre Berto tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, but they don’t have to look across the water for controversy, as Irish boxing had a doping issue of its own this weekend.

European Youth silver medallist Gary Sweeney has been banned for a doping violation after testing positive for a prohibited substance during in-competition testing last October.

The 18-year-old light-heavyweight from Ballinrobe has appealed against the length of the ban, but nine months has been deemed the ‘appropriate sanction’.

Considering the suspension was dated from the collection of the sample Sweeney will be able to return to action as soon as July.

The Mayo fighters brother and coach Martin Sweeney will have to nigh on two years to make his return to a corner after he admitted providing Sweeney with ban substance furosemide.
“Mr Martin Sweeney admitted to the Panel a violation of Article 2.8 of the Rules by providing a Prohibited Substance to an athlete, namely, Gary Sweeney to whom he is coach,” the Irish Sports Council and Irish Amateur Boxing Association announced in a statement.

“The Panel noted that this is the first case in which an anti-doping rule violation has been admitted by or established in the case of a coach.

“Mr Martin Sweeney was sanctioned, subject to his right to appeal within 14 days from 3rd April 2012, by the imposition on him of a period of ineligibility of twenty seven months.”