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Chambers fails in Olympic bid

18/07/2008

Sprinter Dwain Chambers has failed in his bid to be allowed to compete for Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At a high court hearing today, which had been put back by two days after it was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, the judge ruled in favour of the British Olympic Association (BOA).

The 100m runner was challenging the life ban imposed upon him in accordance with a BOA by-law that prevents any athlete who has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs from competing at the Games.

Chambers had challenged the law on the basis that it was an unreasonable restraint of trade to exclude him from the Olympics.

And counsel for the Belgrave Harriers runner, Jonathan Crystal, argued that not selecting Chambers for Team GB would be excluding a man who represented the country's best chance for success in the men's sprint event.

However, the BOA have successfully defended their position, arguing that the by-law as it stands is completely legal and must be adhered to by its athletes, and that Chambers was aware of the rules before he was caught using the banned steroid THG in 2003.

Immediately after the ruling was handed down, BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said the organisation is "respectful" of the decision "in all aspects".

"The BOA has rules which are not only recognised and understood by all Olympic athletes but our by-law has been in place for 16 years at their request and for their benefit," he continued.

"It is a matter of regret that Dwain Chambers, an athlete with such undoubted talent… should by his own actions put himself out of the running to shine on the Olympic stage in Beijing.

"On behalf of the athletes the BOA will continue to send a powerful and important message that nobody found guilty of serious drug-cheating offences should have the honour of wearing a Team GB vest at the Olympic Games."

He concluded by calling on the public to focus on the interests of the athletes who would be travelling to Beijing.

Chambers and his representatives offered no comment, and it remains unclear what his future holds.