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IOC chief Rogge vows to keep GB drug cheat out of Beijing Games
Matthew Beard, Evening Standard7 Mar 2008
Jacques Rogge today told Dwain Chambers he does not want him competing in his Olympic Games as the controversial sprinter prepared to run in the World Indoor Championships.
The president of the International Olympic Committee said he backed the British Olympic Association's lifetime ban on drug cheats and revealed that from this summer anyone suspended for at least six months for a doping offence will be barred from the 2012 London Games.
Chambers, who runs for Britain in the 60 metres heats in Valencia today, has hinted he may next week become the first athlete to challenge the BOA ruling in the High Court in time for Beijing. However, in an interview with the Standard, Rogge dealt Chambers's bid a huge blow.
Asked whether he would support the BOA in principle in defending their by-law, Rogge said:
“Yes. We are sympathetic to this rule. We have a slightly different rule in that it is not a live [active] ban but is for the next Games.
“The principle is the same so we are sympathetic and supportive of the rule of the BOA.
“We decided at the World Championships in Osaka last year we would not give accreditation to any athlete who has a penalty higher than six months — for minor offences this would not be applicable. But if it is above six months we would not accredit the athlete for the next Games.”
At their annual meeting before the Beijing Games, the IOC are certain to approve the rule as part of a series of anti-doping sanctions.
Chambers (right) was found guilty of taking performance enhancing steroids and served a two-year ban from August 2003. He returned in June 2006 and last month qualified for the British team in Valencia.
The BOA have warned they would “vigorously” contest an appeal. But Chambers' lawyer has written to them to say the athlete will decide on any possible legal action after this weekend.
Dick Pound, the former head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, believes Chambers would have a good chance of overturning his ban.
He said the BOA would be on “shaky” ground because their penalty exceeds the two-year suspension under the WADA code which the BOA have signed up to.
Reader views (2)
Why doesn't Duane go to the Games as an individual athlete? He has surely qualified in terms of performance. After all, the Games were initially for "individuals" not Nationalistic organisations currently "in vogue". And let's face it in the modern day of "professional" sportspeople, who isn't a "drugs cheat"? We'll only know when they get caught! They are all cheating in some way probably. Training at high altitude versus taking an equivalent drug? Absolutely nothing in terms if increased performance; both are forms of cheating. That's why I'll not be watching any "goings on" in Beijing!
- Guy Dods, Masterton, New Zealand, 20/07/2008 01:41
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Duane Chambers has served his penalty and is no longer banned from athletics. Therefore he should be just as entitled to run in the Olympic Games as in any other athletic event.
These days serious criminals tend to get off with light sentences. Even murderers serve "life sentences" that don't mean "life". Dangerous drivers only get a few years ban, never for life.
Is drug cheating really to be considered a more serious offence than, say drunk driving, which can cause fatal accidents? Does the latter bring a life ban? I think not (though in serious cases it should).
Sports cheats only harm their own health, and one mistake should not result in a life sentence when thugs causing grievous bodily harm only get at the most a few years in jail and are then freed to offend again.
Keep things in proportion. Athletes are only able to complete at top level for a limited period and a 2 year ban is a punishment not to be taken lightly. Duane deserves a second chance.
- David Tomkinson, Rochdale, UK, 12/07/2008 01:04
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