Paula Radcliffe speaks in favour of Dwain Chambers - Olympics news
Paula Radcliffe, marathon world record holder, has recently spoken in favour of Dwain Chambers, the British sprinter who has been placed under a life time ban for doping.
The statements that Radcliffe made followed the decision taken in favour of LaShawn Merritt by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Merritt had been placed under a life time ban by the International Olympics Committee (IOC) after he was found to have
taken a banned male enhancement drug. However, the CAS recently gave a decision in favour of the athlete, overturning the orignal IOC decision.
Consequently, the British Olympic Association (BOA) has been feeling the pressure to change its rules that require athletes found to have been doping to be placed under lifelong bans.
While Merritt will now be able to make a show of his skills in the London 2012 Olympic Games, Chambers cannot get that opportunity because BOA rules do not allow him to do so.
Chambers was found to have the banned steroid THG in his bloodstream. The test came positive for Chambers back in 2003.
Radcliffe commented in the following manner regarding the case of Chambers: "It does seem unfair to have people in this country [banned], as if they were in other countries they would have that right to compete in the Olympics. [Chambers] is one of the few
who stuck his hands up and said, 'I did cheat and I'm sorry', and admitted it. A lot of people have done their time and never admitted it and they are allowed to come back and compete and that isn't fair. It has to be a proper rule. I would rather see every
country take the BOA's rule on board but if not I think you have to have some sympathy for Dwain and the situation he is in.”
Radcliffe is a 33-year-old athlete who has a lot to her credit. Despite the fact that she had just given birth to her second child, Radcliffe was able to get her hands on the bronze medal at the Berlin Marathon last month. She will be looking forward to
the London 2012 Olympic Games to grab some more silverware.
Tags: