2 runners who have served suspensions desire to display that they are able to win without intake of steroids. They are going to take part in the 2012 London Olympics. Justin Gatlin, an American sprinter, and Dwain Chambers, a British runner, want to display that they may 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 won 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 organizations reported about their attitude to this sportsperson, supporting him.
When it comes to Dwain Chambers, it is not clear yet whether he will be allowed to compete at the Olympics. This sportsperson was not so supported, as Justin Gatlin was. Chambers experienced cold response from the British Olympic Association (BOA). Chamber’s return 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 rule didn’t meet criteria the WADA rules related to prohibited drugs. 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 was not pleasant.
Justin Gatlin has never acknowledged that he had used steroids intentionally. But Chambers took the whole responsibility for application 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 proclaimed. At the beginning this sprinter was banned for 8 years. Later his suspension was reduced by half because of cooperation with the USADA.
Justin Gatlin didn’t admit that he had applied steroids knowingly. He blamed his masseuse for application of a testosterone cream during a massage.
On the contrary, Chambers acknowledged that he had administered steroids and taken the total responsibility for the violation of steroid laws. He was sentenced to 2-year ban. This runner forfeited all medals he received since 2002.
Various attitudes to these sprinters have shown the difference between perceptions of sportspersons who have taken steroids by anti-doping officials in the USA and in the UK.