Jackson: Chambers bid 'irresponsible'

10:11am Friday 4th July 2008

Dwain Chambers has been urged to halt his challenge to an Olympic ban for the good of the British team heading to Beijing.

The sprinter's legal team have filed court papers against the British Olympic Association in a bid to pave the way for him to go to next month's Games in China as Chambers is currently barred from competing under a BOA bylaw that bans drug cheats unless there are mitigating circumstances.

"Dwain is being very irresponsible to the other Team GB members in his approach," said Colin Jackson, the former 110 metre hurdles world record holder and 1998 Olympic silver medallist.

He added: "Why would you want to create a disturbance for others in your team? Every athlete out there representing Great Britain will be asked, 'what do you think about being in a team with Dwain Chambers?' Now is that fair to have that burden put on them?

"He should not be able to look for sympathy from anyone else, just sit back, shut up and get on with it.

"It has always been the case that you know if you get banned for drugs, you would not be able to take part in the Olympics, so all this stuff about rehabilitation does not exist.

"The rules are simple: if you get caught, you pay the punishment. If he wants to run in the IAAF meets then let him get on with it, no-one is stopping him from doing that. But, as far as the Olympics are concerned, you know the rules and so play by them."

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