Chambers Fails To Overturn Olympic Ban

British sprinter Dwain Chambers has failed in his attempt to overturn a lifetime ban from competing in the Olympics after a High Court judge ruled against his appeal.

The 30-year-old was looking to secure an injunction against the British Olympic Association by-law which would allow him to compete in the Beijing Games this summer but the ruling went against him.

Under BOA rules, the sprinter was banned from future Games after testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003.

Chambers had argued that the ban was an unfair restraint of trade and that he should be allowed to compete in the Beijing Games.

But Mr Justice Mackay refused to grant an injunction to temporarily suspend the lifetime ban before a full hearing in March next year.

In his summing up, Justice Mackay said Chambers’ right to work was not a good enough reason to overturn the ban.

He also said if Chambers’ team had launched the appeal earlier, there would have been more chances to research evidence and expressed concerns about ‘the harmony and management of the British team’ if an injunction was granted.

The sprinter won the 100m at the British trials last weekend thus securing automatic qualification for the GB team had his appeal been successful.
 
British selectors have to name their final squad for next month’s Games in Beijing by Sunday at the very latest and consequently Chambers has stated that he will not appeal the ruling due to lack of time. 

A number of top British athletes including Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Kelly Holmes had signed a petition supporting the BOA by-law which banned Chambers from competing.