Chambers barred from Beijing but BOA to undertake review

BRITISH Olympic chiefs will review their lifetime ban on drugs cheats after the Beijing Games, it can be revealed.

BRITISH Olympic chiefs will review their lifetime ban on drugs cheats after the Beijing Games, it can be revealed.

The BOA will order a survey of all Olympic athletes for their views on the bylaw after the Games, but the organisation's chairman Lord Moynihan insisted today's court victory over Dwain Chambers would strengthen their resolve to keep the rule.

The sprinter lost his bid to run in Beijing after the High Court refused to grant an injunction temporarily suspending a lifetime Olympic ban.

But judge Mr Justice Mackay also said: "Many people both inside and outside sport would see this bylaw as unlawful.

"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."

Afterwards, Moynihan insisted the ruling had strengthened the BOA's position but revealed they would commission a survey to ensure the athletes were also behind the bylaw.

He said: "We will ask the British Athletes Commission, which is independent of us, to undertake a survey on the bylaw after Beijing.

"Today has strengthened our resolve that it's the right approach but we also want to make sure we are reflecting the athletes' wishes."

Moynihan said that a previous survey had shown 90 per cent of the athletes were in favour of the BOA's lifetime Olympic ban for serious drugs cheats.

The International Olympic Committee last month toughened their rules so that any athlete being banned for six months or more for a doping offence would miss the next Games after their ban has ended.

Moynihan said the judge had recognised that under the new IOC rules Chambers, who was given a two-year ban in 2003 after testing positive for the designer steroid THG, would have been ineligible for Beijing.

The judge also made the point that the BOA have a tougher law than the IOC or virtually any other national Olympic committee.

Asked if the BOA would consider falling into line the IOC, Moynihan replied: "We are aware that for 16 years we have taken a very tough line and the feeling has been to take into account what the athletes want.

"The IOC have now made a major move in the direction of the BOA, WADA have toughened up their position and with the High Court decision I think the tide has turned in our favour."

Moynihan said he was not jubilant to have won as Chambers' actions had damaged Olympic sport.

He said: "I'm clearly pleased that the bylaw stays in place and is respected by the courts, but it's a matter for regret that our best sprinter has put himself out of the running to shine in Beijing purely by his own actions.

"We have however sent a powerful message that serious drug offenders will not be part of Team GB."

Chambers is unlikely to appeal against the decision and the 30-year-old's lawyer Nick Collins said his client was very disappointed by the result.

Collins said: "The difficulty of challenging the rules of a governing body was always going to be a tough."

Reaction among former and current Olympic athletes was one of relief that the bylaw had been upheld.

Colin Jackson, the former 110m hurdles silver medallist, said: "I'm really happy Dwain has lost his appeal.

"This is more about a principle than anything else and the decision has sent out a clear message that we are not going to accept people in our team who have committed offences such as this."

Lynn Davies, 1964 Olympic long jump champion president of UK Athletics, said: "The UKA board don't want to see anyone with a drug conviction competing for their country."

A UKA statement read: "We have always maintained our support of the bylaw and are delighted it has been upheld in this instance. We now consider the issue closed and look forward to Beijing and turning all our focus to our final preparations with the athletes who will represent Great Britain."

Jo Pavey, a strong candidate for an Olympic 10,000m medal in Beijing, said: "If they had let him run in Beijing it would have sent out the wrong message to youngsters in the sport as we prepare to stage the Games in London."

Mark Foster, who will swim in his fifth Olympics in the 50m event in Beijing, said: "I think it is a great pity that the case has come to court and distracted from all the other clean athletes who want to compete on the greatest stage in the world.

"I am also very pleased for any athlete who thought they may lose their place to Chambers."