BOA Expects CAS Defeat

The British Olympic Association is reportedly expecting to be defeated in the court battle to keep their lifetime ban for drugs cheats.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will deliver a ruling next week after the BOA challenged the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) for declaring the ban "non-compliant".

The BOA has so far been given no indication from the court, but senior BOA officials are apparently prepared for the ruling to fall on the side of WADA.

If that decision does come to fruition, it would mean that the likes of sprinter Dwain Chambers and cyclist David Millar will be eligible for selection at London 2012.

However, BOA communications director Darryl Seibel has said that there had been no indication at all from CAS.

Seibel said: "We have not received the decision from CAS although we expect it will be next week, and neither have we received any indication from CAS as to what the decision might be."

British IOC member Sir Craig Reedie said in January that he believed it was likely that CAS would overturn the lifetime ban.

Reedie, who sits on the boards of both the BOA and WADA, was at the original meeting of the BOA in 1991 when the lifetime ban was passed and spent many years defending the ban while BOA chairman.

But he stated that as the IOC's similar ban known as Osaka rule had already been overturned, the CAS were unlikely to divert from that position.

Reedie said in January: "The BOA rule is different to the Osaka rule in that it has an appeal process but my feeling is that the same CAS panel as ruled on the IOC is unlikely to change its mind.

"If it is not accepted by CAS and it is regarded as a sanction, then the BOA rules could well be used in the future as a basis for writing a change to the WADA code.

"Morally, the BOA hold the high ground, and if you set the Olympics as a slightly special sporting event many people would agree with that."

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Moses Believes in Second Chance

Double gold medallist and anti-drugs campaigner Edwin Moses believes drug cheats should be given a second chance to compete at the Olympics.

The former 400m hurdles record holder was in a group of athletes who pushed for tighter testing in the 1980s.

But he told BBC Scotland: "Once you serve your penalty, you serve your penalty and you go back to it.

"If you go out and drive drunk, you'll get your drivers' licence back eventually. That's much more critical."

Scottish cyclist David Millar and English sprinter Dwain Chambers are among those who have been given a lifetime ban by the British Olympic Association.

That policy is being considered by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with the BOA challenging a ruling by the World Anti-Doping Agency that the Olympic ban is unenforceable.

But, ahead of a decision expected next month, Moses backs countries like his own who allow those who have tested positive to return to the sport once they have served their ban.

"I know, in the United States, our Olympic committee supported LaShawn Merritt, who tested positive a couple of years ago, in his efforts to be eligible to compete in the Olympics," he said.

"That case was won. There's no doubt that there's going to be many athletes at the Games who have perhaps had positive drug tests.

"The United States anti-doping agency supported Merritt as there should be a redemptive value in sports.

"I would be more concerned about the people who are going to habitually drive under the influence of alcohol."

Moses, who won 122 consecutive races and set the world record in his event four times, believes that today's sport is much fairer than when he was competing.

"It was not just myself," he recalled of the campaign for improved drug testing.

"It was a group of seven or eight athletes, some of whom were tired of getting beat by people that they previously were in front of.

"And that was the real impetus to have a fair and level playing field.

"This was back in the late 80s. We knew that having drug control out of competition was the way to control that.

"More athletes have a chance of having a level playing field today than probably did when I was competing."

Chambers Prepares for Real Race

Dwain Chambers ready for Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing

Dwain Chambers is prepared for the possibility that his London 2012 hopes will be ended by a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing starting on Monday.

The 33-year-old is contesting a British Olympic Association by-law that excludes drugs cheats from selection.

"I've got my mind around the possibility of that happening," he said of the chance of his appeal failing.

"I have no idea what the outcome will be and that does make it difficult. It does bother me."

Chambers, who won bronze in the 60m in the world indoors championships in Turkey on Saturday, was banned for two years in 2003after being found guilty of taking anabolic steroid THG.

The World Anti-Doping Agency believes Chambers should be free to compete having served his suspension, while the BOA argues that its requirement for athletes to have clean drugs record is part of its selection criteria rather than an additional punishment.

BOA chairman Lord Moynihan has insisted Chambers and others who would become eligible would be welcomed back into contention for the London 2012 team if Cas rules against it.

Chambers, who has also been excluded from major domestic meetings on account of his positive test, says he has come to terms with his predicament and has been pleased by his Great Britain team-mates' reaction to him.

"I had to grow up. I had to review my situation and realise I was the culprit and the one making mistakes," he added.

"The athletes are very supportive. They support me and I support them. That's what's making it more enjoyable.

"If it goes our way, it would be fantastic. But I can't get too happy because I still have to qualify.

"Even though I'd become eligible, I'd still have to qualify. These youngsters are getting faster and I'm getting older, so it's becoming that much harder."

Chambers has received support from American sprinter Justin Gatlin who beat him to gold in Istanbul.

Former 100m Olympic champion Gatlin, who was banned for four years after testing for testosterone in April 2006, is free to compete in London 2012 as the United States team is open to athletes who have served drugs bans.

"He's one of the best runners in British history," said Gatlin.

"He came back after all his trials and tribulations and established himself as one of the best runners for the UK team.

"I think he has proven himself as a God-given talent and a good runner and to have him on that line in the Olympics would be a great show."