Frankie Sheahan will return home from Ireland's tour to Oceania

Ireland hooker Frank Sheahan is returning home from Australia after a urine sample detected traces of Salbutamol.

Sheahan flew out with the Ireland party on Thursday, but will return home after the European Rugby Cup Ltd (ERC) disclosed the positive sample on Saturday.

Sheahan's positive urine sample was supplied following the Heineken European Cup match between Munster and Stade Toulousain on 26 April.

Under ERC and Irish Rugby Football Union regulations the player is temporarily suspended from all playing activity until such time as the ERC anti-doping procedures are concluded.

Sheahan's case will be heard before the ERC's Independent Judicial Tribunal, which is made up of a leading legal practitioner as chairman, a top medical practitioner and an eminent ex-player or rugby administrator.

The player will leave the Ireland tour party in Perth, where they were preparing to face Australia next Saturday.

I am absolutely satisfied it results from an administrative error Frank Sheahan

Sheahan, who was expected to stay for the whole trip, which sees Ireland play Samoa and Tonga, said he was amazed by the news.

''I am shocked to learn of this development but I am absolutely satisfied it results from an administrative error,'' said Sheahan.

''Apparently, I did not tick off the appropriate box to show I have a medical need to use Ventolin, which contains Salbutamol, because of asthma, which all my medical records show.

''Ventolin is not a forbidden substance and it is simply a technicality of having it declared on the form.