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Adlington and Redgrave unhappy with CAS ruling

Rebecca Adlington was an Olympic winner in Beijing © Getty Images

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Britain's Olympic stars have come out to voice their criticism of the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision to overturn LaShawn Merritt's ban from a London 2012.

CAS came down in favour of Merritt on Thursday, ruling that his ban from London 2012 due to the IOC's Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter is illegal.

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 paves the way for the likes of sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar to challenge the lifetime bans imposed on them by the British Olympic Association which is positive its by-law will stand up to any challenge.

Millar has spoken out in support of the decision, saying: "A lifetime ban for a first offence does not encourage rehabilitation nor education, two things that are necessary for the future prevention of doping in sport."

But he would appear to be in the minority, as the likes of Rebecca Adlington and Sir Steve Redgrave have hit out at the ruling.

"Can't actually believe this story!!! Whatever happened to drug free sport?" was Adlington's response on Twitter.

Redgrave said: "I wholeheartedly stand by the BOA's eligibility by-law which aims to exclude athletes who intentionally dope from being selected for Team GB. It is fair, there is a clear right of appeal and it serves to catch those athletes who consistently cheated.

"Most importantly for me, the by-law sends out a very strong and positive message that doping in sport is wrong."

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