A British court has refused to overturn the ban on British sprinter and
Olympic hopeful Dwain Chambers. Chambers had challenged a law which
bars any athlete from representing Britain in the Olympic games if they
are found guilty of doping. From London, Tendai Maphosa has the
details.
Dwain Chambers qualified on the track when he came in
first in the 100 meters at the British Olympic trials earlier this
month but he still had another hurdle to clear: the courts.
Because
of a two-year ban for testing positive for a banned steroid in 2003,
Chambers' qualification was not automatic. The British Olympic
Association has a rule that imposes a lifetime ban for drug use.
Chambers argued he had been punished and that the lifetime ban was a unfair.
But
a High Court judge refused to temporarily suspend the lifetime ban
before a full hearing can be held in March of next year saying
Chambers' right to work was not a good enough reason to overturn the
ban.
The judge also said Chambers' delay in bringing his case
before the courts did not help him. British selectors have to name
their final squad for next month's Games in Beijing by Sunday at the
very latest.
British Olympic Association chairman Colin
Moynihan defended the lifetime ban saying it has been in place for 16
years and is recognized and understood by all Olympic athletes.
"It's
a matter of regret that Dwain Chambers, an athlete with such undoubted
talent and a winner of the European Youth Olympic festival 100 meters
as a young man, should by his own actions put himself out of the
running to shine on the Olympic stage in Beijing," Moynihan said,
"however on behalf of the athletes, the BOA will continue to send a
powerful and important message that nobody found guilty of serious drug
cheating offenses should have the honor of wearing team GB vests at the
Olympic games."
Chambers left the court without making a
comment. After his positive test he was stripped of the 100 meter gold
medal he won at the European Championship in 2002. The gold medal he
and his 4x100 meters relay teammates won was also taken away.
He
has also had unsuccessful attempts at American football and rugby but
it's on the track that he has excelled. The Olympic ban will not affect
his participation in sponsored competitions but because of his drug
taking history, some organizers have said they would not invite him.
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