Chambers loses Olympic ban case

Chambers still has the right of appeal against the decision

British sprinter Dwain Chambers will not be able to run at the Olympics after he lost his attempt to overturn his lifetime ban.

The 30-year-old took his case to secure an injunction against the British Olympic Association by-law to the High Court, 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.

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, Mr 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.

Chambers still has the right of appeal against the decision, but the clock is against him with any hearing having to take place before the end of the Court’s proceedings on Friday.

British selectors have to name their final squad for next month’s Games in Beijing by Sunday at the very latest.

Chambers had already gained the necessary qualifying time for the 100m and comfortably won the British trials in a time of 10.00 seconds on Saturday.

But when the British team was named on Monday, only Simeon Williamson – who finished second behind Chambers in the trials – was named for the individual 100m event, with two places left unfilled until the legal case had been decided.

BOA chairman Lord Moynihan said: “It’s a matter of regret that Dwain Chambers, an athlete of such undoubted talent, should by his own actions have put himself out of the running to shine on the Olympic stage in Beijing.

“The BOA will continue to send a powerful message that nobody found guilty of serious drug-cheating offences should have the honour of wearing GB vests at the Olympic Games.”

More to follow.