Edwards: drug cheats deserve another chance

Tuesday 24 April 2012

Jonathan Edwards, the former Olympic triple jump champion, is happy the British Olympic Association's lifetime ban for drug cheats looks set to be overturned.

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The BOA revealed last week they were resigned to defeat in their battle to keep a by-law which has allowed them to ban any drug cheats from competing at a future Olympics for life since 1992.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) insist the by-law is "non-compliant" with their global charter on anti-doping, which states an athlete found guilty of taking a prohibited substance should be given a two-year ban.The news that the BOA expect to lose their case, which is being heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), was met with disappointment by leading British figures in the Olympic movement such as London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and four-time gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy.Edwards, a member of the London 2012 board and a gold medallist at the Sydney Olympics 12 years ago, does not agree, claiming he thinks a lifetime ban is too harsh, although he does admit a two-year suspension is too lenient."Athletes should get a second chance. I wouldn't personally support a lifetime ban," Edwards said. "The reason the BOA brought their by-law is that because four-year bans for a serious drug offence turned into two. Two years is simply not enough. It's too lenient. It sends out the wrong kind of message."An athlete should miss one Olympic cycle if they test positive for drugs. What the world needs to do is to unite and introduce four-year bans. Then we would be in a much stronger position."CAS heard arguments from both sides at a hearing in London last month and they confirmed in a statement this afternoon they will publish their decision next week.

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Edwards: drug cheats deserve another chance

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