2 runners that have served bans plan to show that they may win without steroid use. They desire to compete at the 2012 London Olympics. Justin Gatlin, an American runner, and Dwain Chambers, a British runner, want to demonstrate that they can win, competing clean.
They have already demonstrated that they are worthy to be called “Olympic champions”. While Justin Gatlin has received the gold medal, Dwain Chambers has obtained 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 two agencies noted about their attitude to this runner, supporting him.
When it comes to Dwain Chambers, it is unclear yet whether he will be permitted to take part in the Olympics. This runner wasn’t so supported, as Justin Gatlin was. Chambers received cold response from the British Olympic Association (BOA). Chamber’s return to sports prompted the decision of the BOA to ban sportspersons that have been caught applying steroids from the Olympics forever.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has informed the BOA that this decision violated the WADA laws related to forbidden products. The BOA decided to fight against 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 Justin Gatlin was supported by the US Olympic Committee, Chambers’ case wasn’t pleasant.
Justin Gatlin has never acknowledged that he had applied steroids knowingly. But Chambers took the entire responsibility for administration of steroids.
Justin Gatlin tested positive for testosterone in April 2006. The world record of this athlete was annulled after the results of testing had been reported. At the beginning Justin Gatlin was banned for 8 years. Later his suspension was reduced to 4 years because of cooperation with the USADA.
Justin Gatlin didn’t acknowledge that he had used steroids knowingly. He blamed his masseuse for application of a testosterone cream during a massage.
On the contrary, Dwain Chambers acknowledged that he had applied steroids and taken the total responsibility for the violation of steroid rules. He was banned for 2 years. This sprinter forfeited all medals he won since 2002.
Different attitudes to these sprinters have displayed the difference between perceptions of sportspersons who have administered steroids by anti-doping officials in the USA and in the UK.