UK Anti-doping Chief Warns That Drug Ban Dispute may Harm 2012 London Olympics

The bitter disputes between the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) need to be rapidly settled, Chief Executive of UK Anti-Doping, Andy Parkinson has said. He added that matter could becoming an embarrassing issue for the nation that is set to host Olympic Games next year.

WADA's board recently declared the BOA's controversial by-law that bans athletes guilty of doping offences for life was 'non-compliant' with its global code.

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The BOA is now preparing to take its case to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Parkinson believes that it is the best way to resolve the issue, once and for all but stressed that it needs to be done as quickly as possible.

"We certainly agree with the BOA that CAS is the most appropriate place to have this matter resolved," the Independent quoted Parkinson, as saying.

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"If we can get it done as quickly as possible then we have got some clarity for everyone involved going into 2012. What we need is for CAS to make a definitive ruling on it then we can all progress forward," he added.

The row has escalated since CAS found in favour of the US athlete LeShawn Merritt last month and overturned the International Olympic Committee's rule that meant athletes serving a ban would also automatically miss one Olympics.

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David Howman, the director general of Wada, recently rejected a scattergun attack on his organisation by Colin Moynihan, describing the chairman of the British Olympic Association as wrong and misguided and suggesting that Moynihan should be ignored.

Like Parkinson, Howman emphasised the need for a swift resolution, and he believes it wont take too long for CAS to reach a decision and lift the 'cloud hanging around'.

Howman also said yesterday that Wada would look again at the issue of life-time bans for doping offences when the anti-doping code is reviewed in the wake of the Games. But he suggested any such ban would be unlikely to survive a legal challenge.

Source-ANI