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Chambers told he will not go to Olympics
4:47pm Friday 18th July 2008
By Dan Kerins »
SPRINTER Dwain Chambers has failed in his High Court bid to be allowed to go to the Olympics.
The sprinter was handed a lifetime ban from Olympic competition after testing positive for drugs.
On Saturday he achieved the required time to compete in the competition in Beijing next month.
But his hopes have now been dashed after the judge ruled the sprinter did not have a reason to be allowed to go to China.
Mr Justice Mackay refused to grant an injunction to temporarily suspend a lifetime ban on the sprinter competing at the Olympics.
The British Olympic Association will not be pursuing costs from Chambers, who had claimed the organisation's by-law was an unfair restriction of trade.
The 30-year-old can appeal the decision but the BOA must have its final roster of athletes submitted by this coming Sunday.
Chambers left the court shortly after the ruling, he did not speak to the assembled press outside.
The ban was imposed on Chambers after he test positive for the steroid THG in 2003.
BOA chairman Lord Colin Moynihan welcomed the ruling.
Speaking outside court he said the association would continue to send a "powerful and important message" to athletes that drugs cheats would not have the honour of representing the UK.
He added that the BOA could now focus on the athletes who would be travelling to Beijing in 21 days time.
Mr Justice Mackay returned to the London court this morning to give his ruling to a packed courtroom and the athlete himself.
The judge 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."
Chambers' lawyer, Nick Collins, said his client was very disappointed by the result.
Mr Collins said: "The difficulty of challenging the rules of a governing body was always going to be tough."
He added that for the moment no decisions on any future action have been taken.
Mark Foster, who will swim in his fifth Olympics in the 50m event in Beijing, said: "I think it is a great pity that the case has come to court and distracted from all the other clean athletes who want to compete on the greatest stage in the world.
"I think the verdict is absolutely right and it is very sad that someone like Dwain, who has a great natural talent, chose to disqualify himself by taking drugs.
"But he knew the rules and he cheated knowing the rules. It's as simple as that.
"I am also very pleased for any athlete who thought they may lose their place to Chambers if the verdicts went the other way - let's now focus on the athletes who are competing for medals."
Your Say YourEcho
Jack, Soton says...
11:36am Fri 18 Jul 08
Impose lifetime bans for drugs cheats and perhaps those individuals would think twice about it!
JP, Victoria says...
11:47am Fri 18 Jul 08
Iain, Lordshill says...
11:49am Fri 18 Jul 08
Best news sport has had in ages.
George, says...
11:52am Fri 18 Jul 08
Paramjit Bahia, Southampton says...
12:00pm Fri 18 Jul 08
It will be nice if the society at large also decides that there is no place in public life for those who have been consuming cannabis or other banned substances and vote out cabinet minsters and senior opposition MPs who have been openly bragging about smoking dope.
Derry, west hampshire says...
12:09pm Fri 18 Jul 08
George, says...
12:10pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Derry wrote:Interesting point of view, but how is it relevant to the story??
I am not a supporter of any political party but it seems to me that the new labour politicians have more in common with communists. It seems to me that many years ago these politicians instead of joining the communist party that had precious few members and no influence, opted to join the labour party and change it into something which would disguise their real allegiance.
Road Runner, says...
12:37pm Fri 18 Jul 08
toxteth o'grady, says...
12:40pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Road Runner wrote:So let him off because he's our only chance of a medal ?? Chump !!
He was about our only hope for a medel, he should have been allowed to go....you can be sure he's not the only dope taker in our team. He was just unlucky to be caught.
George, says...
12:41pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Road Runner wrote:Maybe so, but the fact is, he was caught. And more pertinent, had the cheek to defend his cheating
He was about our only hope for a medel, he should have been allowed to go....you can be sure he's not the only dope taker in our team. He was just unlucky to be caught.
What sort of thinking is that? Might as well say "there's no point convicting burglars that are unlucky enough to get caught. You can be sure they're not the only burglars"
Dowayne Neufville, Southampton says...
12:43pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Mmmmm, here, there, everwhere says...
12:58pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Dowayne Neufville wrote:Nice to see a reasoned response instead of the 'Daily Hate' style 'lock 'im up' response.
Not sure about this one. Being an ex spinter myself and sharing the same name things don't add up. It takes allot of time and effort to earn an living through altheltics and to be honest thier are probley more drug taking in the sport now than ever, because they are so hard to detect. but rather than make him an outcast why not use him to clean up the sport and show what he can achieved without drugs. Thier may well be things that can be learnt, afterall where do these drugs come from and thier connections. I just think a ban sweeps things under the carpet and does not tackle drugs in sport...
FWIW I can see both sides of the argument, I hate the idea of drugs in sport and as a former amateur sprinter myself I worked pretty hard in training to get my times down and resent people taking a short-cut....
Having said that I wasn't anywhere near competing at an 'elite' level where, especially around the sprint events, the suspicion that the man who just beat you was using drugs so I can't begin to understand the pressure on Dwayne to take drugs.
I do believe that in most cases in life, people deserve a second chance and also you can be sure that we have just kissed goodbye to a Brit in the 100m final... if not the semi's also.
Will Sylabub, Soton says...
1:03pm Fri 18 Jul 08
really?!, the clouds says...
1:06pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Road Runner wrote:Considering you've got guys on the other side of the Atlantic like Powell and Bolt regularly running sub 9.8 these days, if not faster, and several others who seem to be capable of regularly running sub-10, i think Chambers would have been lucky to make the final, even if he is our 'best' sprinter - so that argument's a bit lame!
He was about our only hope for a medel, he should have been allowed to go....you can be sure he's not the only dope taker in our team. He was just unlucky to be caught.
Ciaran, says...
1:17pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Will Sylabub wrote:Not really, seeing as Chambers used steroids.
"Olympic Blow ", bit of an missplaced use of wording there?
P.Elliot, says...
1:17pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Dowayne Neufville wrote:He was taking drugs which enhanced his physiological make up and for which he has retained the benefits with continual training. Therefore his every successful stride is formed from the foundation of drug taking.
Not sure about this one. Being an ex spinter myself and sharing the same name things don\'t add up. It takes allot of time and effort to earn an living through altheltics and to be honest thier are probley more drug taking in the sport now than ever, because they are so hard to detect. but rather than make him an outcast why not use him to clean up the sport and show what he can achieved without drugs. Thier may well be things that can be learnt, afterall where do these drugs come from and thier connections. I just think a ban sweeps things under the carpet and does not tackle drugs in sport...
The ban has swept nothing under the carpet,in fact this has sent out a clear message that if you do get caught, the law is behind the governing body with regard to a lifetime ban.
I also feel that the villification of Chambers by fellow athletes past and present proves that there is no place in Athletics for drug cheats.
Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
1:35pm Fri 18 Jul 08
A Sandler, soton says...
1:54pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
2:28pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Doh, says...
2:28pm Fri 18 Jul 08
ex so'ton, says...
2:30pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Paul TS, Swanwick says...
2:42pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Denzil, Chilworth says...
2:44pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Ben Johnson, Canada says...
2:59pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Denzil, Chilworth says...
3:03pm Fri 18 Jul 08
King Mush, Woolston says...
3:51pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Denzil wrote:lol
I dig hung dudes
I bet Denzil's still got a Linford Christie poster on his bedroom wall (or ceiling?)
King Mush, Woolston says...
5:00pm Fri 18 Jul 08
What's the connection between Dwain Chambers and the world's fastest animal?
They are both cheetahs!
Matt Probert, Harefield says...
5:30pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Jeff McLean, Chandlers Ford says...
5:55pm Fri 18 Jul 08
woooosh, gone says...
7:28pm Fri 18 Jul 08
q'aaarg, says...
8:17pm Fri 18 Jul 08
woooosh wrote:You demonstrate a massive misunderstanding of the performance-enhancin
you'll never get a score off him though, he is hard to catch as he is full of whizzzzzz!!!
g drugs in question, I'm afraid. They help you train harder, and enhance the effects of the training. It's not some magic bean you take before a race that turns you into The Flash
George, says...
8:24pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Matt Probert wrote:Exactly. What's really galling about this particular cheat, is that, even now, he talks as if what he did was normal, and acceptable, and a perfectly reasonable way to "win". It must be hard enough to teach kids that cheating's wrong when those caught cheating make a public attempt to apologise. With this guy basically saying "cheating is the only way to win", you're stuffed
Great result! As an organiser of a youth sporting club, it is very hard to inspire the kids. If they see drug cheats getting away with it they will copy them. We don't want drug cheats as role models. Can we now resign this sad loser to the rubbish pile he belongs in? And let the honest heroes take part and do their honest best.
gods, sake says...
9:08pm Fri 18 Jul 08
George wrote:grow up the pair of you,he got caught he done his time now let him get on being what he is,i bet none of your kids have ever taken drugs either recreational or otherwise.
Matt Probert wrote:Exactly. What's really galling about this particular cheat, is that, even now, he talks as if what he did was normal, and acceptable, and a perfectly reasonable way to "win". It must be hard enough to teach kids that cheating's wrong when those caught cheating make a public attempt to apologise. With this guy basically saying "cheating is the only way to win", you're stuffed
Great result! As an organiser of a youth sporting club, it is very hard to inspire the kids. If they see drug cheats getting away with it they will copy them. We don't want drug cheats as role models. Can we now resign this sad loser to the rubbish pile he belongs in? And let the honest heroes take part and do their honest best.
kids dont follow guys like dwayne they have other role models!you know like the roasters the rapists and swearing at umpires and refs
you both belong in a bygone era!
string bean, Wiltshire says...
11:04pm Fri 18 Jul 08
Gilmore, Shirley, Southmapton says...
1:45am Sat 19 Jul 08
string bean wrote:Nope, footballers should also be banned from taking drugs. Excuse my ignorance of this particular situation, but I was under the impression they were? Please forgive me if I'm wrong.
I must be the only one in the country who thinks the judge got it absolutely WRONG. It is an absolute farce that an athlete can take drugs, admit it, and be banned for life. Yet a professional footballer can take drugs, get caught, fined, and still be allowed to play football at a high level. What sort of impression does this give to kids? That you will be alright to take drugs, and get away with it because you play football!
Pedant, says...
7:45am Sat 19 Jul 08
Gilmore wrote:Wasn't the campaign linked to Zammo's heroin addication? If so that was a mid-80's storyline. That was seven seasons into the thirty season run and not the original cast. Tucker had already left to try his "luck".
The original cast of Grange Hill, actually. But I'm happy, thanks for asking :D
string bean, Wiltshire says...
9:12am Sat 19 Jul 08
George, says...
9:12am Sat 19 Jul 08
gods wrote:What the hell are you talking about? "I bet none of your kids have ever taken drugs"? Do you even think before you post this drivel? So if one of my kids had taken drugs, it's somehow magically ok to win sporting events by cheating? Your reasoning leaves a lot to be desired, you know
George wrote:grow up the pair of you,he got caught he done his time now let him get on being what he is,i bet none of your kids have ever taken drugs either recreational or otherwise.
Matt Probert wrote:Exactly. What's really galling about this particular cheat, is that, even now, he talks as if what he did was normal, and acceptable, and a perfectly reasonable way to "win". It must be hard enough to teach kids that cheating's wrong when those caught cheating make a public attempt to apologise. With this guy basically saying "cheating is the only way to win", you're stuffed
Great result! As an organiser of a youth sporting club, it is very hard to inspire the kids. If they see drug cheats getting away with it they will copy them. We don't want drug cheats as role models. Can we now resign this sad loser to the rubbish pile he belongs in? And let the honest heroes take part and do their honest best.
kids dont follow guys like dwayne they have other role models!you know like the roasters the rapists and swearing at umpires and refs
you both belong in a bygone era!
George, says...
9:27am Sat 19 Jul 08
string bean wrote:I think it's dependent on the drugs taken. Performance-enhancin
I must be the only one in the country who thinks the judge got it absolutely WRONG. It is an absolute farce that an athlete can take drugs, admit it, and be banned for life. Yet a professional footballer can take drugs, get caught, fined, and still be allowed to play football at a high level. What sort of impression does this give to kids? That you will be alright to take drugs, and get away with it because you play football!
g drugs like anabolic steroids, well, that's cheating, blatantly (despite what "gods" above likes to think) and, yeh, should attract a ban. If it's just a recreational drug (just??) like coke or weed, then performance isn't enhanced, hence, it isn't cheating, hence the same rules don't apply. That said, it's still pretty poor show, and they have broken the law, so IMHO should still be banned. I'm not agreeing with how it works, just pointing out why I reckon it appears there's a double standard
The judge didn't get anything wrong. Should he really let someone off, just because someone else got let off?
Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
10:37am Sat 19 Jul 08
Pedant wrote:Bah, my mind's gone. I should have learned from Zammo.
Gilmore wrote:Wasn't the campaign linked to Zammo's heroin addication? If so that was a mid-80's storyline. That was seven seasons into the thirty season run and not the original cast. Tucker had already left to try his "luck".
The original cast of Grange Hill, actually. But I'm happy, thanks for asking :D
Big Clem, back from holiday says...
11:28am Sat 19 Jul 08
steve, central says...
7:52pm Sat 19 Jul 08
George, says...
8:35pm Sat 19 Jul 08
steve wrote:No he didn't make a mistake. His ongoing verging-on-boasting justification of his actions tells us that. Anyways, he's been banned from the Olympics, which, by definition, is not a professional meet. Plus, competitive athletics can hardly be compared to a regular profession. His profession was based on competitiveness, and he cheated at that, by using performance-enhancin
Poor chap he made a mistake if every drug user was treated this way and not allowed back into his or her proffession we would live in a cruel world.
g drugs. He's not being barred simply for using drugs. You'd expect a corrupt lawyer or policeman to be barred from their profession. Same thing
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hulla, baloo says...
11:34am Fri 18 Jul 08
Along with all the other cheats as well.
They know the punishment for being a cheat, and still opt to take the drugs.
Is a shame that he,along with anybody else found guilty, cannot be banned from the sport for life.