Olympians support ban against Chambers

Olympic champions Steve Redgrave and Kelly Holmes and nearly 100 other top British sports names have signed a petition aimed at blocking a bid by sprinter Dwain Chambers to compete at the Beijing Games after a drugs ban.

Chambers, 30, has returned to competition after serving a two-year ban, having tested positive for the anabolic steroid tetrahydrogestrinone in 2003, and gained a 60 metres silver medal at the world indoor championships in March this year.

He is seeking to overturn a British Olympic Association (BOA) bylaw preventing anyone found guilty of a doping offence from competing for Britain at the Olympics.

Redgrave, who won rowing gold medals at five Olympics, and Holmes, double athletics gold medallist in 2004, are among 95 members of the British Athletes' Commission, an independent body representing Olympians and Paralympians, who have published an open letter to support the BOA stance.

"We, the undersigned athletes, wish to express our public support for the British Olympic Association's bylaw on eligibility for membership of Team GB of persons found guilty of a doping offence," the letter said.

Redgrave, in his personal contribution to the letter, said: "Sport is going through a tough time with drug-related issues and we have to uphold a strong stance.

"Every athlete that competes for Great Britain knows the BOA's rules. If an athlete takes the risk of cheating then they have to accept the penalties that go with this."

Holmes, Olympic champion at 800 and 1,500 metres, wrote: "I have no hesitation in giving my full support to the BOA bylaw and their continuing commitment to seek a lifetime Olympic ban for sports people convicted of taking drugs."

Another name on the petition is that of sprint rival Craig Pickering, European indoor 60 metres silver medallist in 2007, who was denied a place at the world indoor championships after he was beaten by Chambers in the trials. The pair could become team mates if Chambers gets the ban over-turned in the High Court.