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Journalism of Courage
Dwain Chambers will learn Thursday whether he can compete at next month8217;s Beijing Olympics.
Chambers, who served a two-year doping ban from 2003-05, is seeking a temporary injunction against the British Olympic Association, which has a bylaw banning doping violators for life from the games.
The deadline to make the team for Beijing is Sunday, so an appeal on Friday from either side is possible depending on Judge Colin Mackay8217;s verdict.
Mackay ruled last Thursday that there is not enough time to hear the full case until after Beijing.
8220;I was hoping the case would be behind me last week, but we are now in court again tomorrow,8221; BOA chairman Colin Moynihan told The Associated Press on Wednesday. 8220;At the moment I8217;m working 20 hours a day, seven days a week on Dwain Chambers and that at the moment is the priority.8221;
Chambers is confident he will be challenging Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell in the 100 meters in Beijing next month.
8220;I will respect the judge8217;s decision,8221; Chambers said Saturday at the British trials, where he won the 100 in 10 seconds flat.
8220;But I strongly believe that decision will go in our favour then I can go and have some fun in Beijing. I8217;ve got a confident mind.8221;
Moynihan was reticent to discuss the case directly ahead of his court appearance Thursday, but he defended the BOA8217;s stance.
8220;Anyone who has been following the Chambers case knows cheating in sport, taking drugs to get a competitive advantage, is unacceptable in the Olympic movement,8221; he said. 8220;We are going to significant lengths to defend our eligibility bylaws on that.
8220;I have spent my lifetime in sport. I don8217;t think those who knowingly take drugs to cheat their colleagues at sport should be competing in the Olympic Games.8221;
The 30-year-old Chambers returned to the track this year after serving a two-year doping ban after testing positive for the steroid THG, the drug at the center of the BALCO scandal, in August 2003.
8220;We have moved on from the days of taking steroids 20 years ago and hoping not to get caught,8221; Moynihan said. 8220;This is an area where a lot of money is being invested 8211; we saw that from the BALCO laboratories case.8221;
The BOA has been backed by Michael Johnson, the retired American runner who holds the 200 and 400 world records.
8220;He cannot be trusted,8221; Johnson said of Chambers in Wednesday8217;s editions of the Daily Mail. 8220;He is going to say what he needs to say to make himself look better.8221;
