Two sprinters who have served suspensions plan to prove that they may compete successfully without administration of steroids. They are going to participate in the 2012 London Olympics. Justin Gatlin, an American runner, and Dwain Chambers, a British sprinter, want to manifest that they can win, competing clean.
They have already displayed that they are worthy to be called “Olympic champions”. While Justin Gatlin has obtained the gold medal, Dwain Chambers has received the bronze medal in the 60 meter sprint a1t the 2012 World Indoor Athletics Championship in Turkey.
Justin Gatlin was invited to professional sports again by the USA Track and Field and the US Olympic Committee. These 2 agencies noted about their attitude to this athlete, supporting him.
When it comes to Dwain Chambers, it is unclear yet whether he will be allowed to compete at the Olympics. This sprinter was not so supported, as Justin Gatlin was. Chambers experienced cold response from the British Olympic Association (BOA). His return to sports prompted the decision of the BOA to suspend sportspersons that have been caught taking steroids from the Olympics forever.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has informed the BOA that this decision violated the WADA laws related to banned medicines. The BOA decided to war on WADA and to prevent participation of Dwain Chambers for the United Kingdom in the Olympics. The BOA has taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).
Thus, while Gatlin was supported by the US Olympic Committee, Chambers’ case was not pleasant.
Justin Gatlin has never admitted that he had applied steroids intentionally. But Chambers took the total responsibility for intake of steroids.
Gatlin tested positive for testosterone in April 2006. The world record of this athlete was annulled after the results of testing had been proclaimed. At the beginning this sportsperson was suspended for eight years. Later his ban was reduced by half because of cooperation with the USADA.
Gatlin didn’t admit that he had applied steroids knowingly. He demonized his masseuse for application of a testosterone cream during a massage.
On the contrary, Dwain Chambers acknowledged that he had administered steroids and taken the entire responsibility for the violation of steroid rules. He was sentenced to 2-year ban. This athlete forfeited all medals he got since 2002.
Various attitudes to these sprinters have manifested the difference between perceptions of sportspersons who have administered steroids by anti-doping officials in the USA and in the UK.