Olympic chiefs to review drugs ban

2:03pm Saturday 19th July 2008

British Olympic chiefs will review their lifetime ban on drugs cheats immediately after the Beijing Games despite winning their court case against Dwain Chambers.

The BOA will order a survey of all Olympic athletes for their views on the bylaw after the Games, but the organisation's chairman Lord Moynihan insisted Friday's ruling enforcing a lifetime Olympic ban on the disgraced sprinter would strengthen their resolve to keep the rule.

Moynihan said: "We will ask the British Athletes Commission, which is independent of us, to undertake a survey on the bylaw after Beijing.

"This verdict has strengthened our resolve that it's the right approach but we also want to make sure we are reflecting the athletes' wishes.

"I don't believe this will change that bylaw but we need to keep it under review."

Moynihan said a previous survey had shown 90% of the athletes were in favour of the BOA's ban for serious drugs cheats.

The sprinter lost his bid to run in Beijing after the High Court refused to grant an injunction temporarily suspending the lifetime ban.

But judge Mr Justice Mackay also said: "Many people both inside and outside sport would see this bylaw as unlawful.

"In my judgment, it would take a much better case than the claimant has presented to persuade me to overturn the status quo at this stage and compel his selection for the Games."

The International Olympic Committee last month toughened their rules so any athlete being banned for six months or more for a doping offence would miss the next Games after their ban has ended.

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