International Olympic Committee to revise anti-doping laws
After LaShawn Merritt won a court case against his ban yesterday, October 7, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has now been forced to change their anti-doping rules. The IOC is not happy with the prospect, as recently revealed in a statement given
by the IOC.
Jacques Rogge, the president of the IOC, made the following statements regarding the matter: “We were disappointed, of course. The rule was meant to protect the clean athletes... So we’re a little surprised, disappointed. We are going to move to change the
WADA anti-doping code at its revision in 2013 to establish a rule that has the same effect as the one that has been invalidated now.”
The decision given in favour of Merritt has gotten another athlete, Dwain Chambers, thinking about appealing the ban imposed on him by the IOC because of the intake of a banned drug. Chambers is currently under deliberation about launching a legal campaign
against the IOC that might give him the chance to be a part of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The ban imposed on the sprinter places him under a lifelong restriction from partaking in the Games. Chambers was placed under a ban in 2003, when he was found to have an illegal substance in his bloodstream. The ban imposed on the athlete for the offense
was for a period of two years which he has readily served, however, it comes with a bylaw that Chambers would be under a lifetime suspension.
Chambers agent, Sazia Agha, made the following statement about the matter: “Dwain and I just want the opportunity to read, digest and review the reasoning behind the decision at this stage.”
Chambers was one of the more promising players in the athletics world as he won the 60m world indoor crown in Valencia in 2008. Not only that, he was able to qualify for the World Championships that took place in Daegu earlier this year.
Chambers will now be hoping to get himself into the London 2012 Olympics which are being held in the UK for the third time in history.
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