FRIENDS of All-Ireland winning Limerick hurler Peter Casey say that he has been fully vindicated after he released the results of a drug test he undertook to clear his name.
And they blasted online insinuations after a short mobile phone video recording appeared to show something being put into the Na Piarsaigh clubman’s hand by a male friend while socialising in a pub last weekend.
The video appears to show Casey putting the item into his pocket before carrying on dancing with friends to a live music session.
In a social media message, Mr Casey stated his friend had handed him change after the other man had purchased a round of drinks.
Reliable GAA sources said the video clip was recorded in a Galway pub last Friday night by another well-known hurler who posted it on his instagram account. It was not clear how the recording appeared on other social media platforms.
In what he said was a move to “clear my name”, Casey posted the results of a drug test he undertook last Tuesday.
Three others who were in his company on the night also undertook drug tests, according to Casey’s social media post.
Amid growing speculation online, the hurler reached out to fellow players and friends stating: “Well boys, I’m sure ye have all seen the video on social media of me in the last few days and I’d just like to reassure ye that it’s not what it looks like.”
“Since it’s happened, myself and the 3 lads have completed a drugs test and results have all come back clear.”
“I would like to post my own drug test results which was taken from an independent body, known as EHA, on the 27th of August, which shows conclusive evidence,” he added.
A photo of the negative drug test result, which is stamped by a doctor and dated August 28, 2019, was also posted by the player.
The result form, signed by a named specialist occupational physician also states Mr Casey attended for the purposes of a urinary drug screen by consent.
“The result is self evident i.e. negative”, the form states.
It’s understood Mr Casey also successfully secured the pub’s CCTV footage from the night.
He stated: “We’ve also received video footage from the night in question which shows my friend, coming from the bar with the drinks and hands me my change.”
“I would like to think that ye would all know me long enough, and well enough to know that these accusations are totally false!!”
“I’d really appreciate it if ye could send these videos and the pictures into yere different WhatsApp groups to try and clear my name,” the message concluded.
A spokesman for the Limerick GAA County Board and a spokesman for Na Piarsaigh GAA Club, each said they had “no comment” to make about the controversy.
Another source close to Casey said the player had made a statement, and that the matter had been blown out of all proportion.
“There’s been enough said about it now,” they added.
Mr Casey did not respond to messages to contact the Limerick Post for comment, and there was no one available at his home this Wednesday.
A GAA source said Casey was “moving on” and felt he had “fully cleared his name”.
