Road to Olympics cleared but drugs cheats face dilemma

The British Olympic Association’s lifetime ban for drugs cheats was formally declared unenforceable yesterday. The Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a formal ruling that the BOA’s by-law does not comply with the world anti-doping code. CAS said in a statement: “The by-law is a doping sanction and is therefore not in compliance with the WADA code.

“The CAS confirms the view of the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) foundation board as indicated in its decision. Therefore, the appeal of BOA is rejected, and the decision of the WADA foundation board is confirmed.”

UK Athletics confirmed that any athletes such as Chambers who had been affected by the lifetime ban would now be eligible for selection. The controversial sprinter gets the chance to qualify at the trials in Birmingham next month, while cyclist Millar will also need to convince GB selector Dave Brailsford that he is worthy of a place in the men’s road race team.

Beyond that is the question of whether they will be accepted by their peers, the majority of whom have voiced their concern in recent months over competing alongside people who have been banned for taking drugs.

Former Olympic champion Jonathan Edwards – in Leeds yesterday as part of his role as deputy chair of the Nations and Regions Group for LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) – believes in giving athletes a second chance.

He also feels that yesterday’s outcome highlights the importance of the need for a longer ban that would take drugs cheats out of one Olympic cycle.

But he also questioned whether Chambers and Millar would want to open themselves up to public scrutiny at London 2012.

“They have to ask do they want to be the black sheep in the Olympic team?” said Edwards. “I think they have sympathy with the BOA and their stance, so it would be hard for them with the focus of a home Olympics if the public feel they shouldn’t be there, so I think they’ve got a difficult decision to make.

“David Millar has said that he’s not sure he wants to be in a team with that kind of focus when the likes of Geraint Thomas and Sir Chris Hoy have made their opinions known about a lifetime ban, so in a sense this is not necessarily a win for the athletes.”

Hugh Robertson, Sports and Olympics minister, said: “I supported the BOA’s position, as our national Olympic committee, in having the autonomy to set its own eligibility criteria for Team GB athletes.

“I want the code to be further strengthened and I would particularly like to see tougher sanctions for proven drug cheats.”