The IRUPA said in a statement that Frankie Sheahan has, "the full and unconditional support of the association in his efforts to vindicate himself and clear his good name.

"We are very concerned with the methodology employed by the tribunal and find the situation to be totally unsatisfactory", said IRUPA in its statement".

IRUPA Chief Executive Niall Woods, said: "The decision of the independent judicial tribunal was a major surprise in the light of the legal and medical evidence presented at the tribunal. I would like to stress that this is not just a matter of a player being banned from playing rugby. This is a player's whole livelihood, his sole source of income, his whole life. Frankie chose to play professional rugby - he did not choose to be an asthmatic", said Woods.

IRUPA in its statement says it is optimistic that Frankie Sheahan will be successful in his appeal against the two-year ban imposed on him.

The association is seeking a meeting with the IRFU, as the employer of Frankie Sheahan, to impress upon it its unease with the circumstances surrounding the matter.

The IRUPA said in a statement that Frankie Sheahan has, "the full and unconditional support of the association in his efforts to vindicate himself and clear his good name.

"We are very concerned with the methodology employed by the tribunal and find the situation to be totally unsatisfactory", said IRUPA in its statement".

IRUPA Chief Executive Niall Woods, said: "The decision of the independent judicial tribunal was a major surprise in the light of the legal and medical evidence presented at the tribunal. I would like to stress that this is not just a matter of a player being banned from playing rugby. This is a player's whole livelihood, his sole source of income, his whole life. Frankie chose to play professional rugby - he did not choose to be an asthmatic", said Woods.

IRUPA in its statement says it is optimistic that Frankie Sheahan will be successful in his appeal against the two-year ban imposed on him.

The association is seeking a meeting with the IRFU, as the employer of Frankie Sheahan, to impress upon it its unease with the circumstances surrounding the matter.