When Elten and Burroughs shoes were banned: What you need to know

When Elsten and Burroris shoes were first banned by the Irish Sports Authority, the Irish media covered it with great interest.

The two men are one of Ireland’s most iconic athletes and have a close bond with the country, especially following the tragic death of former player Robbie Daly in February 2017. 

Elsten and Burroughs were among a group of six Irish athletes, along with three Welshmen and one Scotsman, who were banned from competing in 2019.

The bans came after they were charged by the FAI with breaches of the Anti-Doping Authority’s code of conduct, a charge that the pair deny. 

The ban followed an investigation into the conduct of the Irish players and team by the National Anti-doping Authority (NAAD), which found them guilty of “soliciting or conspiring to manipulate or abuse” a banned substance in relation to the 2017 World Cup. 

 The Irishman Elten (right) and his Irish team-mate Burrough (left) (Getty Images) The case of Elsten and Burris was one of a number of high-profile cases in recent years in which the Irish authorities were criticised for failing to properly investigate cases of cheating and anti-dancing.

The Irish authorities have faced a number other high- profile cases over the years involving the use of banned substances, including the Irish Rugby Union’s alleged involvement in the use of performance-enhancing drugs in 2015, as well as the case of former Ulster player Darragh McInnes. 

In December, it was reported that the Irish FA had reached an agreement with the Anti Doping Authority in the wake of the Elten case to avoid having to deal with further investigations in the future.

The agreement comes after the NAAD, which is not affiliated to the Irish Government, announced it was investigating the conduct of the Irish team during the 2018 World Cup and had been informed by the Ireland Rugby Union (IRFU) that they would not be subject to the Anti Rules for the next six months.