London 2012 Olympics: Scots drugs shame cyclist now eligible for games

THE lifetime ban which prevented drugs cheats from representing Britain at the Olympic Games has been overturned, paving the way for the likes of Scots cyclist David Millar and English athlete Dwain Chambers to compete in London this year.

THE lifetime ban which prevented drugs cheats from representing Britain at the Olympic Games has been overturned, paving the way for the likes of Scots cyclist David Millar and English athlete Dwain Chambers to compete in London this year.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) had a by-law which prevented any sportsman or woman found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs from being eligible for the Olympic Games. The by-law applied even if the athlete had served the full duration of a ban from his or her sport and had returned to competition.

However, sport’s highest court ruled yesterday that the lifetime exclusion from the Olympics is effectively a second punishment, and is therefore unenforceable.

The ruling came after the BOA lost a battle with the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) to adopt a more lenient policy, which permits athletes to represent their national team in the Olympics once any drugs ban has elapsed.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday said the BOA’s by-law was “a doping sanction and therefore not in compliance with Wada code”.

The ruling went on to state: “The international anti-doping movement has recognised the crucial importance of a worldwide harmonised and consistent fight against doping in sport, and all signatories have agreed to comply with such a principal without substantial deviation in direction. At the moment, the system in place does not permit what the BOA has done.”

However, CAS agreed that the BOA is free to persuade other nations that such a ban should be part of Wada’s code in the future.

BOA chairman Lord Moynihan said yesterday: “The BOA are clearly very disappointed in the outcome. We must now move the discussion forward. We will seek far-reaching reform, calling for tougher and more realistic sanctions: a minimum of four years including one Games.”

Athletes will still have to reach the Olympic qualifying standard to be considered for selection, but Millar, 35, the cyclist who was given a two-year ban after he admitted taking the blood-boosting agent EPO in 2004, will now be eligible.

After the decision was announced, a spokesman for British Cycling said: “Our team for the Games is being selected in June and across all disciplines we’ll pick the team based on which riders are fit and available, and who we believe have the best chance to deliver medals. We won’t be speculating on who may or may not be selected.”

The change in the BOA’s by-laws will also mean sprinter Chambers, 34, who tested positive for designer drug THG in 2003 and was given a two-year ban, will be eligible for Team GB.

UK Athletics confirmed yesterday that any athletes such as Chambers who had been affected by the lifetime ban would now be eligible for selection.

It said in a statement: “UK Athletics has always supported the BOA by-law but welcomes the clarity the CAS decision brings to this issue. Athletes affected by the ruling are now eligible for the team, in both individual and relay events, and will be subject to the same selection criteria and process as every other British athlete.”

The BOA has also been ordered by CAS to “pay all of the costs of the arbitration” – the organisation has already incurred substantial legal costs in hiring barrister Lord David Pannick to represent them, albeit at reduced rates.

Hugh Robertson, sports and Olympics minister, expressed his disappointment at the outcome, and called for tougher sanctions for doping offences generally.

He 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 accept this ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport but it is very disappointing.”

Allan Wells, the Scottish sprinter who won the 100 metres gold medal at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, said he was not happy with the judgment but that it was important to accept it and work towards convincing the rest of the world of the BOA’s position.

He said: “BOA has to recognise that they have to get the support of the rest of the world behind them or they have to come into line with Wada. Whether we like it or not, we just have to accept it. I say good luck to Dwain Chambers – he has been in the wilderness for a long time.

“It has come to a head and so let’s now just get on with the athletics.”