Mmmm- here's my view on this issue
But what i'm saying is that Britain is an anomaly in this regard. The rules should be the same for everyone, whether it's a total ban or not and then we wouldn't have this situation occuring again.
fwiw, i think the original 2 year ban was a joke, should have been longer and then maybe Dwain would have been too old to even think about coming back....
I would have agreed with most of the opinion on this thread/issue that Dwain shouldn't be allowed to compete in the Olympics, because of the BOA bye-law. As well as bringing the sport into disrepute than it already was. You could also say that statment imo more strongly on the likes of Ben Johnson,Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Ekaterina Thanou et al insulting the sport that i watched a lot when i was younger (and still do at times). But personally this whole debate on whether Chambers should to be allowed to compete, imvho exposes the sporting governing bodies (National & International) punishments on athletes on any sport who used banned substances in order to cheat.
Remember apart from Britain there are three other countries who have a similar Olympic life ban bye-law i.e. China (the swimmer last week who got banned), Norway and Romania (i think?).And out of the 200+ countries who will be participating in the Olympics in a few weeks it shows volumes and their attitudes towards drug cheats.
Take for example the World Atheltics governing body the IAAF as far as i know it's a 2 year ban for any athlete getting caught taking banned substances. Depending on which country that you represent the punishment is mostly a 2-4 year ban. Also as someone rightly said why wasn't he bannned from also competing in any of the major Athletics competitions i.e. Commonwealth,European World championships - but only the Olympics?* Or in terms of punitive action e.g. why is he treated differently to footballers caught using the same substance who only got three month bans?
I know that the International Olympic Committee a month or two ago in Lausanne, Switzerland had a special meeting with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on the issue of drug cheats. And they agreed that after the Beijing Olympics are all done and dusted a 4 year ban (in the Olympic cycle - i think) for any athlete that gets caught.
Even though i quite agree with the idea/policy that drug cheats should be banned for life & possibly from all sport. If they cheat for the first time. *But what i'd like to see in terms of understandable policy in all competive sports is:-
(1)
A 4-year ban for first time offenders in their sport e.g. Athetics - thus missing all the major championships. For a UK sportsman/woman it'll be the Commonwealth, Euros, World and Olympics.
(2) If the participant/athlete gets caught tested positive again then
a lifetime ban in their chosen sport. As well as all other sports, would be imvo fairer. This would stop the likes of e.g. Chambers doing his vain attempt to become a Rugby League Player during his trial with Castleford Tigers.
(3)
Any coach who supplies his/her athletes a banned substance(s) should get banned for life. In addition to legal action, leading to a jail term.
But whether the respective National sporting and World governing bodies in all sports agree to my suggestion is another different matter. You can argue for the ultimate sanction for any offence in any walk of life (e.g. lying on a CV, to cite a recent example in the media) on the basis that it will act as a deterrent, but I would prefer to see some opportunity/scope for rehabilitation and redemption.
Baldrick - i agree with what you said about DC getting only a 2 year ban imposed by UK Athletics/IAAF. But very reluctantly subscribe to the view that he should run ( a big if), even though at best he'll be in the final - i certainly do not condone any athlete in any sport that takes performance enhancing substances such as roids, EPO etc. Let's face it DC is the perfect example to all young and aspiring athletes/sportsmen & women on how not to screw or fuck up your reputation in your chosen sport! Hopefully this should cause the governing bodies to sort themselves out in future so that a bye-law (i.e like the example above) is rock solid and this kind of farce does not occur again.
