Your post was very moving, and shows that humane consideration is still possible by some. It was getting depressing to read all the hate directed at Cathal. What more can the guy (Lombard) do? He is just trying to get on with his life. He is not a monster, and should not be treated as such. He cheated, but has turned the page.
Cheating is a fact of life. Yes, in sport it really rears its ugly head, because we look at sport stars with high esteem, but they are not much different to the general populace - just more talented and focused on their goals. Many people cheat in one way or another in life (on taxes, on their wives, on exams, etc....) and many of them are basically honest people. You have to look at people in a holistic way. They are human and fallible. Focusing only on negativity is not productive. If we only focused on negative aspects of people, we would not progress. Look at positives. That is the Christian way, and applies outside the religious arena too.
Now, if someone can show, on these pages, how Cathal directly hurt someone (other than himself) by taking EPO, then you have a case - otherwise, the treatment given to Cathal seems too severe.
As the previous poster mentioned, Lombard is going to be monitored closely for the rest of his life in Athletics, and by winning the Irish cross country 'clean' he has already achieved something monumental, as no one ever anticpated he would get back to that kind of high level.
If you think rationally about the whole episode, there is no reason not to afford Cathal the chance to redeem himself, and prove that he can run well, honestly.
Ghost in Korea
(apply now, good conditions and savings potential), c.moulton