The IAAF Athletics World Championships begins tomorrow in the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing tomorrow morning as the sport is trying to react to some recent drug revelations. The Sunday Times have recently revealed that almost a third of athletes anonymously admitted to cheating in the 12 months before the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
Dr Una May, Director of Anti Doping at the Irish Sports Council spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning about drug testing systems around the world, especially at home. Dr May says we can have "confidence and faith" in the performances of local athletes as the Irish drug testing system is very rigid.
All high performance athletes have to notify the Irish Sports Council of their whereabouts for at least an hour each day every day to make sure they are available for drug testing if required. The athletes "do it willingly" to make sure they are competing in a clean sport according to Dr May.
No country is immune from doping and Dr May told Newstalk Breakfast that on average there are "three of four" Irish athletes caught every year from all sports. She says it's "heartbreaking" for the performances of clean athletes doubted over suspicions in their sport.
Ireland have sent 16 athletes to China with Mark English and Thomas Barr competing on the opening day in the 800 metres and 400 metres hurdles respectively.
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