Banned Dwain Chambers told "you'd upset Olympic team harmony"
Friday, 18 July 2008
Drug-shame sprinter Dwain Chambers will not be going to the Beijing Olympics following his failure to overturn a lifetime ban in the High Court today.
Judge Colin Mackay told the British athlete - who has already served a two-year ban from competing after testing positive for the steroid THG in August 2003 - that the harmony of the British team would be upset if he was included.
Judge Mackay also told Chambers he had little chance of winning a medal in Beijing and it would be unfair to deny a clean athlete an opportunity to compete.
Chambers took his case to the High Court to seek an injunction against the British Olympic Association's bylaw that bans any athlete who has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs from competing in the Games - for life.
And after winning the 100-meter race at last Saturday's British Olympic trials in 10 seconds, he looked back to his best in terms of sprinting form.
But the judge ruled in favour of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
Immediately after the ruling was announced, BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said: "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."
"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."
Chambers and his representatives, however, offered no comment.
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