Edwards happy at overturning of lifetime Olympics ban

The BOA revealed last week that they were resigned to defeat in their battle to keep a by-law which since 1992 has allowed them to ban any drug cheats from competing at a future Olympics for life.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) insist the by-law is “non-compliant” with their global charter on anti-doping, which states an athlete found guilty of taking a prohibited substance should be given a two-year ban.

The news that the BOA expect to lose their case, which is being heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), was met with disappointment by leading British figures in the Olympic movement such as London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and four-times gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy.

Edwards, a member of the London 2012 board who won gold at the Sydney Olympics 12 years ago, does not agree with Coe and Hoy, claiming he thinks a lifetime ban is too harsh, although he does admit that a two-year suspension is too lenient.

“Athletes should get a second chance. I wouldn’t personally support a lifetime ban,” said Edwards.

“The reason the BOA brought their by-law in is that because four-year bans for a serious drug offence turned into two. Two years is simply not enough. It’s too lenient. It sends out the wrong kind of message.

“An athlete should miss one Olympic cycle if they test positive for drugs.

“What the world needs to do is to unite and introduce four-year bans. Then we would be in a much stronger position.”

CAS heard arguments from both sides at a hearing in London last month and are expected to announce their verdict at the end of the week.

Should the BOA lose the case, sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar – both of whom have tested positive for banned substances in the past – are likely to be part of Team GB for this summer’s Olympics.

The BOA insist the vast majority of British athletes support their by-law and having drug cheats among the ranks for a home Olympics could, therefore, upset a few team members but Edwards is confident Chambers and Millar would be welcomed back.

Edwards was speaking at the London 2012 Anti-Doping Laboratory in Harlow, Essex, which received WADA’s seal of approval to be the centre for testing during the Games.

The 150-strong staff at the facility, which has been bankrolled by a £20m donation from GlaxoSmithKline, will test over 625 samples and will be open 24 hours a day throughout the Olympics.

Organisers are hopeful that the lab will help London become the cleanest Games in history.