Defeat in Chambers case won’t end our fight for reform, says BOA
THE BRITISH Olympic Association has vowed to continue its fight to ban past dopers from representing Team GB at future Games, despite losing the legal battle to enforce that selection policy at London 2012.
BOA chairman Lord Moynihan called the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s ruling, which was confirmed yesterday and opens the door for sprinter Dwain Chambers to compete this summer, “a hollow victory” for the World Anti-Doping Agency.
“We must now move the discussion forward, and we will engage and lead in a global campaign to seek fundamental and far-reaching reform to Wada,” said Moynihan.
The BOA argued unsuccessfully that it alone should be allowed to determine its selection policy.
Wada countered that its two-year ban from competition was sufficient and that countries should not impose extra sanctions.
Cas delivered its verdict yesterday following last month’s hearing and subsequent deliberations, and Wada president John Fahey was scathing of the BOA’s case. He said: “Wada regrets the many hysterical and inaccurate public statements from the BOA in the course of challenging the Wada decision.”
The BOA was ordered to pay the Cas panel’s costs, but Moynihan said it came in under its £100,000 budget.