Dwain Chambers - which side are you on?

[RMCF]

I see that Dwain Chambers was both cheered and booed today before the race.

Personally I cannot believe that any true athletics fans could cheer him on, when he is a proven drugs cheat.

Personally I think that Britains rule of lifelong bans is correct. He should never be allowed to compete ever again, and I really hope that he loses his High Court case.

Your thoughts?

[Kazuya Mishima]

I think he should be barred from Olympics for life, as is the BOA rule.

I don't mind that Chambers competes in "bog-standard" athletics meets, but the Olympics are meant to represent an ideal in sport, and should not be tainted with proven drugs cheats.

But more importantly, I believe that the BOA's rules and regs must be observed, and should not be subject to legal challenge ("restriction of trade" - ********!). So whatever the BOA decide should stand. They should be allowed to choose which athletes represent UK in the Olympics - and they should have final say on the criteria for selection or otherwise.

[mrm3]

He has done his time.

[paul_doh]

Let him race i reckon, as the person before me said he has done his time.

[Wild Weasel]

Let him run. Athletics has no credibility left anyway.

[Curly99]

British athletics were happy to have him run for them when he had just finished his ban, so what's changed now, BA welcomes Christine Ohuruogu back after she also had an olympic ban.... wearing my cynical hat, is it because she is realisticly one of the only chances we have of a medal in the athletics?

Curly

[smashed]

He shouldnt be racing. He knew the rules and risks when he did it.
That said...most others are on drugs too (they just dont get caught). Dwain got a lot of hassle because he was happy to break the circle and say he isnt the only 1.
The tests cant keep up with the latest drugs..but then they never have done for 50 years. The BALCO story shows that the best got away with it despite rigorous testing. And the people winning now are no cleaner.
The 100m will be won in a time of 9.75 or quicker. Im sure its down to "new training techniques" ;o)

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by mrm3

He has done his time.

No he hasn't. His "time" is permanent and if we allow proven drugs cheats into the Olympics we might as well close them down.

Drugs has done enormous damage to athletics as a couple of decades ago the major athletics meets were watched on TV by millions but interest graually waned as the realisation dawned on us that the winner was the athlete with the best pharmacist. If the Olympics or World Championships are to retain any credibility they must exclude permanently any proven drugs cheats.

[DJT75]

All or nothing for me, if he's allowed to run in every other event including the "Olympic trials" then let him run in the Olympics.

If anything, an Olympic ban should be the same Worldwide over, not just a BOA ruling.

In a way he's actually setting an example of honesty & showing you can compete without cheating (just not the finals ). Real criminals get more than 2, 3 ,4 chances so I don't see any difference here..

[LFC_SL]

I find the whole situation mildly amusing given that Chambers is currently running faster than all the other British contenders

And extreme but I suggest compulsory trackside testing for all if athletics wants to regain credibility.

[lowmans100]

The way I see it if the BOA wanted to stop athletes caught taking banned drugs in sports they would ban an athlete from competing in British events for life, that way an athlete could compete abroad but would not be able to compete in British Team qualifying events. By applying a 'time' ban, once you have served your time you start again with a clean slate.

There needs to be consistency, if all countries Athletics associations including the Olympic and World Association apply the same rules across the board then there would not be any argument. The rules for international participation must be the same for all countries.

My personal opinion is that he broke the rules and served his ban, that is now over and he starts again. If he is good enough and he is following the rules then he should be treated as any other athlete. Let's face it world class athletes give up their lives for their sport, they are not like us mortals that do not take the extra step when your body is screaming at you to stop.

[krish]

I support the BOA
- Chambers knew full well the punishment if caught when he first took performance enhancing drugs, this I think is the overwhelming legal argument against him

I heard Ed Moses on 5 Live's Sportsweek earlier and he said, though not supportive of Chambers, that he should not be prevented from earning a living ... but isn't that like saying you should be offered every job you apply for, and you should throw your toys out of the pram because one of those jobs' requirements was that the candidate had not committed a particular offence?

However, I'm more annoyed that Chambers has generated more outrage than this premiere league footballer currently doing porridge for violent crimes, one of which was committed in the workplace upon a colleague. And the FA literally lived up to their name here, doing sweet FA about this assault cheat (at least Chambers' cheating has not been a Health & Safety threat to his colleagues) ...


... and you just know this bastard will be back on the pitch earning £millions in a few months time
- but what do you expect when somebody like Sepp **atter thinks that slaves sign contracts and are paid £millions

[overkill]

Originally Posted by krish

I support the BOA
- Chambers knew full well the punishment if caught when he first took performance enhancing drugs, this I think is the overwhelming legal argument against him

I heard Ed Moses on 5 Live's Sportsweek earlier and he said, though not supportive of Chambers, that he should not be prevented from earning a living ... but isn't that like saying you should be offered every job you apply for, and you should throw your toys out of the pram because one of those jobs' requirements was that the candidate had not committed a particular offence?

However, I'm more annoyed that Chambers has generated more outrage than this premiere league footballer currently doing porridge for violent crimes, one of which was committed in the workplace upon a colleague. And the FA literally lived up to their name here, doing sweet FA about this assault cheat (at least Chambers' cheating has not been a Health & Safety threat to his colleagues) ...... and you just know this bastard will be back on the pitch earning £millions in a few months time
- but what do you expect when somebody like Sepp **atter thinks that slaves sign contracts and are paid £millions

Totally agree with that.

IanJ also nicely summed up the position. If you cheat and are allowed back into a sport what does that say about the sport? In particular one that has already taken such huge credibility hits?

The ban should be for life - no let up.

As Krish says, in the 'real World' of work if you commit a transgression within your field which is either a stipulated offence, or a clearly stated rule which means that you will not be employed within that field again, then that's what happens. You don't get to work in that field again.

Why on Earth sports people think they should be beyond the law/the rules staggers me.

[jordandy512]

He couldn't compete while he was cheating so what is the point now. Ban him for life, he has got the physique he has from cheating so in my eyes he is still cheating.

[neilios]

But the point is its more than just the olympics though, sports stars from a multitude of sports are taking these drugs ,chambers is bieng made a pariah by those in the media ,and by hypocritical team members .