Sir Chris Hoy ‘sad’ to hear BOA is losing battle over drug cheats

SIR Chris Hoy last night led the expressions of disappointment after it emerged that the British Olympic Association is resigned to losing a court battle to keep its lifetime ban for drugs cheats.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will deliver a ruling next week after the BOA challenged the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) for declaring the ban “non-compliant”. Although the BOA have had no indication from the court, senior officials have confirmed that they are preparing for defeat.

It means that Hoy’s fellow Scottish cyclist David Millar and sprinter Dwain Chambers, who have both previously served bans for doping, now look set to be part of Team GB for the London 2012 Olympics.

Hoy, the four-times Olympic cycling champion, said: “It will be sad if we have to fall in line with the rest of the world. I don’t see anything wrong with having more stringent rules. I think it should be the rest of the world that’s falling in line with our rules.

“If you are caught for taking drugs, then you will not be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. That, to me, is a good incentive not to take drugs. If you take that away, are you taking a step back in the fight against drugs?”

However, World champion Mark Cavendish wants Millar alongside him in Great Britain’s Olympic road race team. Millar was fundamental to Cavendish winning last year’s world championships and now that he is likely to be available for London 2012, Cavendish said: “I would love him to be in the Olympic Games. He is a loyal team-mate, he is very physically good and experienced.”

Millar has previously stated he would not be interested in competing at the Olympics as a “black sheep”.

Asked whether he would attempt to persuade Millar, Cavendish said: “I would love Dave to be on the start line with me – he knows that, you know that, I know that.”