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BOA defeated in WADA court case over lifetime bans for doping cheats Back To Main

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has confirmed it has lost its Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) case against the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regarding lifetime bans for doping cheats.

CAS is set to announce its verdict in the case today, but the BOA on Sunday revealed that the court had decided that its bylaw concerning life bans for any athlete found guilty of doping does not comply with WADA’s global code. The CAS decision will allow athletes such as sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar to have their lifetime BOA bans lifted, making them available for selection for Team GB at the London Olympics.

Chambers tested positive for the designer steroid THG in 2003, while Millar admitted to using the blood-boosting agent EPO leading to two-year WADA bans for both athletes. While the two athletes have since worked extensively with authorities in the fight against doping, the BOA had sought lifetime bans for any athlete found guilty of seeking to enhance their performance through illicit means.

“The British Olympic Association can confirm that today, it has received from the Court of Arbitration for Sport the written decision in the arbitration between the BOA and the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA),” the BOA said, according to Press Association Sport. “As the decision is to be announced first by CAS, and out of respect for CAS and the Arbitration Panel, the BOA will be offering no comment today.”

The BOA will now reportedly focus its efforts on proposals to change WADA's global anti-doping code. The Association is proposing a minimum four-year ban for a first serious doping offence, including missing one Olympics. National Olympic Committees would then have the authority to impose tougher sanctions if they chose to do so.

Source: http://www.sportbusiness.com/