KEITH KELLY, THE coach of Martin Fagan, says the anger he felt when he found out about the runner’s drug use quickly turned to concern for his friend.
The Westmeath native faces a disciplinary hearing in Dublin later today after failing a doping test last month and admitting to taking the banned substance EPO.
A string of injuries, financial problems and depression left the Olympic marathon runner at rock bottom and he revealed yesterday that he wasn’t trying to win medals, or break records – he just wanted to feel normal again.
Kelly, a close friend since 2001, became his coach in December in 2010 and although he understands why other athletes might be upset by the news, he is more interested in Fagan’s well-being.
“If it wasn’t Martin and it was someone I didn’t know, I would be (angry) too,” he said in an interview on Newstalk’s Off The Ball last night.
But the frustration soon disappeared and I just felt concerned for my friend.
“It began to make sense to me.  It wasn’t about a performance-enhancing, he was trying to get back to neutral.”
Kelly explained that he was always aware of the 28-year-old’s struggle with his mental health, but that he never dealt with it properly.
He pinpoints the Chicago Marathon of last year as a breaking point. It was looking likely that the Arizona-based athlete would do well for a time and qualify for this year’s Olympics but after beginning too hard, ended up failing to finish because of exhaustion.
“Mentally and physically, he felt he was doomed after that. Â He had also got himself into huge debt with all the travel to Phoenix for his physiotherapist.”
A former distinguished runner himself, Kelly is well aware of the demands which face Irish athletes. He explains that unless you’re at the top very top level of the sport, it’s a career which can take its toll on a person.
I’ve talked with other athletes who have confided in me about dark periods,” he added.
“Running is a particularly tough sport. It’s very hard on the body and the mind. Depression is very prevalent.”
Listen to the interview on Newstalk’s OTB
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