Chambers Loses Olympic Ban Case

[es-jay]

Chambers loses Olympic ban case





British sprinter Dwain Chambers will not be able to run at the Olympics after he lost his attempt to overturn his lifetime ban.

The 30-year-old took his case to secure an injunction against the British Olympic Association by-law to the High Court, but the ruling went against him.

Under BOA rules, the sprinter was banned from future Games after testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003.

Chambers had argued that the ban was an unfair restraint of trade.

But Mr Justice Mackay refused to grant an injunction to temporarily suspend the lifetime ban before a full hearing - which is now not expected to go ahead - in March next year.

In his summing up, Mr Mackay said Chambers' right to work was not a good enough reason to overturn the ban, while the last-minute timing had also worked against him.

   
The BOA will continue to send a powerful message that nobody found guilty of serious drug-cheating offences should have the honour of wearing GB vests at the Olympics

BOA chairman Lord Moynihan

"Many people both inside and outside sport would see this by-law as unlawful," said Mr Mackay.

"(But) In my judgment it would take a much better case than the claimant has presented to persuade me to overturn the status quo at this stage and compel his selection for the Games."

Chambers still has the right of appeal - although it would have to be heard before the end of play on Friday - but the option is looking increasingly unlikely after the judge's ruling left him with little room for manoeuvre.

British selectors have to name their final squad for next month's Games in Beijing by Sunday at the very latest.

Chambers had already gained the necessary qualifying time for the 100m and comfortably won the British trials in a time of 10.00 seconds on Saturday.

But when the British team was named on Monday, only Simeon Williamson - who finished second behind Chambers in the trials - was named for the individual 100m event, with two places left unfilled until the legal case had been decided.


Craig Pickering and Tyrone Edgar have also secured times within the Olympic qualifying mark of 10.21, and UK Athletics (UKA) selectors will meet on Saturday to decide who to take to Beijing before seeking ratification from the BOA.

BOA chairman Lord Moynihan said the judge's decision had vindicated the long-standing by-law.

"It's a matter of regret that Dwain Chambers, an athlete of such undoubted talent, should by his own actions have put himself out of the running to shine on the Olympic stage in Beijing," said Moynihan

"The BOA will continue to send a powerful message that nobody found guilty of serious drug-cheating offences should have the honour of wearing GB vests at the Olympic Games.

"The court's decision allows us now to focus on, and support, those athletes who will be travelling to Beijing to represent Team GB in just 21 days' time. We must now focus on their interests."

Chambers, pursued by scores of journalists, TV cameramen and photographers, left court saying almost nothing to the media.

Meanwhile, UKA said it fully supported the decision.

After his positive test in 2003, Chambers admitted he had taken other banned substances to enhance his performance and also revealed to the BBC that he had started taking THG 18 months before he was eventually caught.

The revelation led to him being stripped of the 100m gold medal he won at the European Championship in 2002 and also cost him and his team-mates the gold they had won in the 4x100m relay.


While serving a two-year ban from the sport, he attempted to forge a career in American football and earlier this year tried his hand at rugby league with Super League side Castleford.

But he did win silver for Britain in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships in March.

Michele Verroken, the former head of anti-doping and ethics at UK Sport, said other countries should follow Britain's lead by taking a strong stance against former drug cheats at the Olympics.

"I would urge other nations around the world to consider the same eligibility by-law because it's a very important way of protecting the integrity of the Olympics, " she told the BBC.

"There is far more cheating that is surreptitious and deceptive which is corrupting sport, so it's important we sent the clear message that those who compete without the use of drugs get the privilege to compete in the Olympics."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/olympics/athletics/7503792.stm

[wardy]

Great talent but his own actions have cost him is career

[KURUPTION-81]

Good, dont want a drugs cheat representing the country