Chambers ban is death sentence, says Moses
Drugs-cheat sprinter Dwain Chambers’ bid to overturn his lifetime Olympic ban has received support from an unlikely source – track legend and staunch anti-doping campaigner Ed Moses.
The only barrier to Chambers competing in Beijing this summer is now the British Olympic Association’s suspension, after the 30-year-old won the 100m at the National Championships, which double as the team trials, on Saturday.
Chambers will seek a temporary injunction against the BOA’s ban in the High Court on Wednesday, with a full challenge to its legality pencilled in for early next year.
The north Londoner has already served a two-year doping ban, in line with the International Olympic Committee’s guidelines, and the BOA are the only national body to impose an additional lifetime ban.
Moses, who twice won 400m hurdles Olympic gold, believes the BOA should abandon its zero-tolerance approach and that Chambers should be part of the Great Britain team that departs for China next month.
It’s almost like a death sentence,” said the American. “We have to deal with this problem where a national ruling body have rules which are more restrictive than the IOC. “You have to be fair to the athletes and there will be other athletes in China who have tested positive in the past.
“I don’t like the fact that Dwain has had a positive test, but, from an athletes’ rights point of view, you have to stand up for him on this matter.
“If the IOC allow him to compete then there shouldn’t be any reason why (he can’t go to the Olympic Games). He’s served his penalty having tested positive and he’s been a lot more contrite in the last six months.”
Britain are due to name their squad for Beijing today, but could delay the announcement of their sprint line-up until after Wednesday’s hearing.