BOA to challenge life ban ruling

British Olympic officials said they would challenge a recent ruling by global anti-doping chiefs which declared lifetime bans for drugs cheats to be invalid.

The British Olympic Association confirmed it plans to lodge an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said the lifetime ban was “non-compliant” with their regulations.

If the BOA appeal fails, it could mean that athletes such as cycling’s David Millar and sprinter Dwain Chambers – both convicted drug cheats – could be free to represent Team GB at the 2012 Olympics.

BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said Britain’s policy of barring drug cheats from the Olympics reflected “the culture and character of Team GB.”

“The BOA and British Olympic athletes do not consider that those who have deliberately cheated should represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games,” Moynihan said.

The BOA, which hopes to resolve the issue by April 2012, said in a statement that its legal team would argue that upholding the WADA ruling would damage Britain’s Olympic chances.

“The presence of athletes who deliberately cheat within Team GB would damage team morale, atmosphere and cohesiveness,” the statement said.

“It would also damage the credibility and reputation of the team in the eyes of the athletes and the public, and would send the wrong message to aspiring Olympians and new entrants to Olympic sport, particularly young people.

“Further, an athlete who deliberately cheats should not take the place in Team GB of a clean athlete.”