The high-adrenaline world of competition climbing found itself at the centre of anti-doping controversy today.

In a foretaste of future events, with the possibility of the sport featuring in the 2020 Olympics, an Irish bouldering enthusiast was criticised for tipping off would-be competitors they may be dope-tested in two upcoming events. The climbers’ representative body, the Mountaineering Council of Ireland, was also dragged into the row.

Stephen McMullan, of the Irish Bouldering League, posted an entry on the forms of climbers’ website Climing.ie which read: “I’ve been informed today that it will be highly likely that there will be representatives from the Irish Sports Council conducting anti-doping tests at the Midleton [sic] and DCU rounds of the IBL.

“All competitors will be required to sign the MCI anti-doping declaration prior to being allowed to compete.

“In all likelihood there will be urine testing, more probable for folks getting placed 1, 2, 3 but also there is the possibility of random testing.”

Mr McMullan continued: “Personally I’m still reeling at this news. I suppose we just hoped this day would never come.

“Yes, it’s completely inappropriate due to the nature of the event. However, we are insured and funded by the MCI who are in turned funded by the sports councils of NI and Rep[ublic of] Ireland and them’s the rules for competitive events.

“We don’t have a choice here. Well we do, but compliance is the least of all the evils.”

Now, according to John Mooney in the Sunday Times, the Irish Sports Council has asked the MCI to investigate the posting. The ISC, along with Sport Northern Ireland, provides funding for the league.

The competitions will take place at Middleton, County Cork on 24 January and Dublin City University on 28 February.

Bouldering, which takes place both inside and outdoors, sets climbers ‘problems’ to climb, with points scored for completing these mini-routes and a strict set of rules governing how the competitions are run.

All affiliated members of the International Federation of Sport Climbing are expected to adhere to its rules, which include anti-doping. These state that all competitions organised under the federation’s authority should comply with the anti-doping code, which bans many drugs which are present in over-the-counter medications.

Mr McMullan says that people taking insulin and anyone who has used corticosteroids recently would fall foul of the dope testing and would need a medical note from their doctor to say there was a clinical need for their use.

However, he also cautions that ‘recreational’ drugs, some of which stay in the bloodstream for some time, would show up in the tests.

Stuart Garland, the MCI’s chief executive, told the Sunday Times’ Mooney: “We asked the IBL to make sure they had the relevant paperwork, which would enable the sports council staff to carry out anti-doping tests at the competitions.

“It would appear this information may have led people to reach certain conclusions.” He added that he did not endorse Mr McMullan’s comments.

Climbing and mountaineering are recognised by the International Olympic Committee but do not yet form part of the games, though there is a strong likelihood that some form of sport climbing will feature in the 2020 Olympic Games.

The International Federation of Sport Climbing accepted the new anti-doping code in September last year.