• London Olympics 2012

BOA loses battle to ban drugs cheats

ESPN staff
April 29, 2012
Dwain Chambers tested positive for a banned substance in 2003 © Getty Images
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Dwain Chambers will be eligible to compete at London 2012 after the British Olympic Association lost its court battle to preserve a lifetime ban for drugs cheats.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport is set to formally release its verdict on Monday afternoon, when it is expected to announce that the BOA bylaw is not compliant with the World Anti Doping Code.

It paves the way for Chambers, and cyclist David Millar to attempt to qualify for Team GB at this summer's Games.

The BOA has been locked in a lengthy legal battle with the World Anti-Doping Association over the legality of its bylaw - the BOA arguing a clean drugs record was an eligibility issue rather than an additional punishment on those who have failed drugs tests.

It came after Olympic 400m champion LaShawn Merritt successfully had his Olympic suspension overturned by CAS. The IOC rule, which banned athletes who received a doping suspension of more than six months from competing in the next Olympics, was subsequently nullified.

The BOA is expected to formally remove the bylaw at a full board meeting before turning its attention to making proposals to change the World Anti-Doping Code.

A BOA statement on Sunday said: "The British Olympic Association can confirm that it has received from the Court of Arbitration for Sport the written decision in the arbitration between the BOA and the World Anti-Doping Association.

"As the decision is to be announced first by CAS, and out of respect for CAS and the Arbitration Panel, the BOA will be offering no comment today."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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