Colin Moynihan vows BOA will defend drug bans

COLIN Moynihan today declared the British Olympic Association (BOA) will “vigorously defend” its selection policy in the face of a challenge from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The matter will be taken before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in order to secure clarification over the BOA’s position of a lifetime ban for drug cheats.

“The BOA board unanimously agreed to inform WADA that it will vigorously defend the interests of clean athletes by seeking a hearing before CAS to address the enforceability of its selection policy,” said Moynihan, the BOA’s chairman.

The BOA enforces a lifetime ban for doping offenders and are the only national Olympic committee to adopt this position.

In a statement following yesterday’s regular board meeting, Moynihan confirmed that the BOA will respond to WADA’s challenge of its stance at CAS.

WADA wrote to the BOA last month requesting the matter be taken before CAS, a suggestion that was ignored. A second letter arrived from WADA in the last 48 hours outlining a legal position that is strongly disputed by the BOA, which has now agreed to seek a judgement from CAS.

“The BOA wants to ensure that the athletes’ voice is heard and, as such, the BOA has set out to vigorously defend any challenge to the selection policy, as it is a clear expression of the will and commitment of British Olympic athletes,” said Moynihan. “That challenge is now before the BOA. The BOA has received correspondence from the World Anti-Doping Association which confirms that it believes the BOA eligibility by-law is non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. Of course, the BOA strongly disagrees.

The BOA statement added that its challenge was also aimed at bringing “clarity and closure to this issue”.

“Above all, the BOA hopes that raising this issue in this way will ensure the world of sport has an open and honest debate about the status and future of the anti-doping movement.”