The story of Cian O'Connor's 2004 Olympic gold medal, later stripped due to a positive drug test, takes a bizarre turn when the sample is stolen. The theft adds another layer of intrigue to an already controversial case.
The Cambridge Constabulary contact was pleasant and helpful, but also pretty bemused. “Just out of interest, why are you revisiting the case?” wrote the contact this week. “No specific reason, I’m just curious.”
A few Irish reporters on the ground in Greece sensed a medal story in the making at last on the third last day of action when the trio of O’Connor, Kevin Babington and Jessica Kurten qualified for the Showjumping final. Ireland had its moment in the sun, even if the controversy involving the dancing priest Neil Horan, who tackled the lead marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima in the final event of the Games, soon dominated the headlines.
O’Connor felt that the B sample would work in his favour but all hell broke loose when, on October 21, the FEI was informed that a sample portion was stolen from the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory in Newmarket. A file on another of O’Connor’s horses that had tested positive that summer, ABC Landliebe, was the only thing stolen. A page of that file was sent by fax to RTE’s Charlie Bird. O’Connor insisted at the time that he wasn’t responsible as he already had the information on the file.
“It gave different dimensions to it and it meant there was more intrigue around it in the public. But there were factions around who would have gone to any lengths to be against me.”
CYCLING ATHLETICS OLYMPICS IRELAND CONTROVERSY DRUG TESTING
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