Sheahan fails drugs test

The Ireland front-row forward Frankie Sheahan is being sent home from the tour of Australia after testing positive for a restricted substance.

The Irish Rugby Football Union said yesterday that Sheahan had tested positive to salbutamol in a urine test taken while playing for Munster in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulouse on 26 April. Sheahan said he had failed to disclose before the test that salbutamol was in his asthma medication.

He had recently arrived in Australia for Ireland's match against the Wallabies on Saturday. He is automatically banned until a European Rugby Cup disciplinary hearing at a date not yet set.

Salbutamol is not a banned substance, but it can only be used on medical grounds and its use must be notified.