• London Olympics 2012

Chambers' Olympic hope as Merritt wins appeal

ESPN staff
October 6, 2011
LaSwawn Merritt's lifetime ban from the Olympics has been deemed illegal © Getty Images
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The prospect of Dwain Chambers competing at next year's Olympics has increased after LaShawn Merritt won his appeal against a ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Merritt, the 400m Olympic champion, was banned from competing at London 2012 by the IOC after testing positive for a banned steroid in early 2010 - resulting in a 21-month ban from competition.

Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter, otherwise known as the "Osaka" rule, prevents any athlete banned for more than six months for a doping offence from competing at the next Olympics. Merritt took his case to CAS and it has come down in favour of the American who will now hope to get the chance to defend his title.

A statement from CAS read: "The IOC Executive Board's June 27, 2008 decision prohibiting athletes who have been suspended for more than six months for anti-doping rule violation from participating in the next Olympic Games following the expiration of their suspension is invalid and unenforceable."

The ruling is likely to be pored over by Chambers. The sprinter would still be prevented from competing in London by a British Olympic Association (BOA) by-law which prevents athletes who have tested positive for performance enhancing drugs from representing Great Britain. But with CAS finding the Osaka ruling unlawful, a similar challenge to the BOA by-law will stand a strong chance of being successful.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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