BOA Lose Court Case

[Gubby Allen]

Chambers, Millar, Myerscough all free to compete this summer:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukp...1335720525349A

BOA lose court case
(UKPA) – 1 hour ago
The British Olympic Association have lost a court case to keep their lifetime ban for drugs cheats.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will announce on Monday their decision that the BOA's bylaw does not comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) global code, sources with knowledge of the case have confirmed to the Press Association.
The outcome means sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar will have their lifetime bans lifted to allow their selection for Team GB for the London 2012 Games.
CAS rulings are not always cut and dried in favour of a single party, but it is understood this ruling is unequivocally in favour of WADA.
The BOA's response will be to accept the defeat, with the first action to formally remove the bylaw at a full board meeting. That will then open the way to allowing UK Athletics to select Chambers in July, and British Cycling to do the same with Millar in June.
The two athletes had been subject to the lifetime rule for after being banned for doping offences eight years ago. Shot-putter Carl Myerscough would also be eligible for selection.
The BOA will now concentrate on their proposals to change WADA's global code on doping. They have proposed a minimum four-year ban for a first serious doping offence, including missing one Olympics, with national Olympic committees having the autonomy to have tougher sanctions if they so choose including a lifetime ban.
Any such agreement would not come before the London Games however so would not affect Chambers' and Millar's participation.
Most anti-doping experts believe that it is more likely that WADA will agree to change the new code to increase the length of a ban for a serious offence, but will stop short of allowing different Olympic committees to have different sanctions.
Chambers tested positive for the designer steroid THG in 2003 and was banned for two years. Millar admitted to taking the blood-boosting agent EPO and he too was banned for two years.

[Cripps_orig]

Good

[McNamara That Ghost...]

I disagree with it tbf.

[Gubby Allen]

I kept this away from Athletics as it concerned Millar & cycling as much (but merge it if you want mods) - and having read Millar's brilliant autobiography I saw a lot of mitigating circumstances with him.

Going forwards there needs to be an agreed worldwide policy. I'd prefer lifetime bans, but at minimum 4 years.

Reluctantly though, this decision is probably the right one. It would've been a nonsense that Merritt, Gatlin & numerous cyclists and countless others who had failed tests could've been competing while Chambers, Millar & Myerscough etc were unable to.

90% of those who had failed tests I've nothing but contempt for, but Millar's circumstances, if you've read his book do show some mitigating circumstances. Cycling and to a degree athletics are in a considerably better place than they were a decade ago.

Any failed tests now would be inexcusable and deserve a lifetime ban, but the choices at that time in most cases were dope or trail in miles behind the rest and invariably lose your job.

[IBK]

This is the right result.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Good result tbh.

I think it was stupid in the first place. We talk about giving people second chances in all walks of life, but not athletics?!

If these guys can prove that they are clean and off the shit then they should be given the opportunity to compete.

They were young and stupid and in some cases took some bad advice, now they can try and redeem themselves.

[Niall_Quinn]

The idea of the life time ban is to try and preserve the integrity of the results. How many gold medals are in the hands of drug cheats, reformed or otherwise? It's all well and good giving these fuckers a second chance but bear in mind their cheating may well have prevented other legitimate athletes from ever having a chance at all. I'd stick with the life for clearly defined breaches of the rules. If it's on the list and you inject it then you're out. How can that tosser Chambers even have the nerve to line up against real athletes anyway? Guy mustn't have an ounce of shame in him.

[Cripps_orig]

You either ban them for good or dont ban them at all

Whats the point in banning them for x amount of years, have them come back compete in major world championships etc but then keep them banned for the Olympics?

People saying that them being selected means another wont be selected. Not correct. That other will have his chance to be selected in the selection process whatever it may be for whichever sport they play in and if they arent and the druggie is then thats no ones fault but their own

[Niall_Quinn]

You either ban them for good or dont ban them at all

Whats the point in banning them for x amount of years, have them come back compete in major world championships etc but then keep them banned for the Olympics?

People saying that them being selected means another wont be selected. Not correct. That other will have his chance to be selected in the selection process whatever it may be for whichever sport they play in and if they arent and the druggie is then thats no ones fault but their own

You do know that athletes use drug for performance enhancement rather than recreation? As in more performance than the guy who doesn't cheat?

[Cripps_orig]

You do know that athletes use drug for performance enhancement rather than recreation? As in more performance than the guy who doesn't cheat?

Yes

And they were banned for that and have now come back and its all equal as to who gets to the olympics