Two runners who have served suspensions want to manifest that they can compete successfully without intake of steroids. They want to participate in the 2012 London Olympics. Justin Gatlin, an American sprinter, and Dwain Chambers, a British sprinter, desire to show that they can win, competing clean.
They have already manifested 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 noticed about their attitude to this athlete, supporting him.
As for Dwain Chambers, it is not clear yet whether he will be permitted to take part in the Olympics. This sprinter was not so supported, as Justin Gatlin was. Chambers experienced cold response from the British Olympic Association (BOA). This athlete’s comeback to sports induced the decision of the BOA to ban athletes that have been caught administering steroids from the Olympics forever.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has informed the BOA that this decision didn’t meet criteria the WADA laws connected with banned preparations. 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).
so, while Justin Gatlin was supported by the US Olympic Committee, Chambers’ case was not pleasant.
Justin Gatlin has never admitted that he had administered steroids intentionally. But Chambers took the total responsibility for usage of steroids.
The American runner 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 ban was reduced by half because of cooperation with the USADA.
Gatlin didn’t acknowledge that he had used steroids intentionally. He demonized his masseuse for application of a testosterone cream during a massage.
On the contrary, Dwain Chambers acknowledged that he had used steroids and taken the entire responsibility for the violation of steroid rules. He was banned for 2 years. This sprinter lost all medals he obtained since 2002.
Various attitudes to these sprinters have manifested the difference between perceptions of sportspersons who have utilized steroids by anti-doping officials in the USA and in the UK.