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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how people feel about Dwayne Chambers representing England?

50 replies

sensuallettuce · 03/07/2012 20:06

Not sure how I feel about this.

He has done a lot of work with kids around drug abuse in his own time. Was that part of his campaign to have his ban lifted?

But others who have never had a chance have missed out to him.

I ask as a former drug addict (so as not to drip feed).

OP posts:
ThePathanKhansWitch · 03/07/2012 20:08

I'm glad he has the chance to run. I want to believe people have a chance to redeem themselves.

FiftyShadesofViper · 03/07/2012 20:11

Surely they would only lose out if he is better than them now? In sport, there is always a risk of losing out to someone better.

I don't see how any sentence can be forever, we don't do that to most murderers. If he is reformed I don't see a problem.

NarkedRaspberry · 03/07/2012 20:12

I hate it. I don't think he should run again in a national team.

It's also a totally separate issue to general drug abuse/addiction. He didn't take drugs because he was addicted. He took drugs specifically to cheat. He cheated all the other athletes who were running against him. He stole moments of glory from other athletes.

cardibach · 03/07/2012 20:13

I agree, people should have a chance to redeem themselves.
He's not representing England if it's the Olympics you are talking about, though, but GB. If it's another athletics event of which I am ignorant and he actually is representing England, then apologies.

Sirzy · 03/07/2012 20:13

He has served his ban so therefore shouldn't be treated any differently to any other athlete (other than perhaps more regular testing)

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 03/07/2012 20:14

Yes I understand that - I just wanted to be honest in my OP.

OP posts:
Original poster
sensuallettuce · 03/07/2012 20:14

Sorry yes GB!!

OP posts:
Skillbo · 03/07/2012 20:16

I totally agree narkedraspberry, i think it is all kinds of wrong. He took the drugs knowing an Olympic ban was a consequence if caught... Goes against the spirit of the games for me.

Minesaguinness · 03/07/2012 20:18

I think you serve the punishment you are given and after that, you are treated the same as everyone else. If they didn't want him to compete for his country again, they should have given him a lifetime ban at the time. You can't keep changing and extending someone's sentence indefinitely.

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 03/07/2012 20:19

He did get a lifetime ban at the time.

OP posts:
camdancer · 03/07/2012 20:20

I think the problem with letting people race again after a certain amount of time, means that people will cheat early to change their bodies. This means children and young adults being pressured to take performance enhancing drugs. After all if they get caught they will still be able to compete later in their careers. Who knows what else these drugs might do to their growing bodies? (Fertility issues, shortened life span, cancers etc)

For me, a lifetime ban is the only way to stop the cheats.

(Plus the fact that Dwayne Chamber and David Millar both knew they wouldn't be able to compete at the Olympics when they took their drugs.)

Slobby · 03/07/2012 20:21

Fine. Blake, Bolt and Powell will do for a Jamaican clean sweep anyway in the 100 meters - and I'll be lighting up an imaginary spliff to celebrate.

NarkedRaspberry · 03/07/2012 20:22

Yep. He was given a lifetime ban. This is a result of sports lawyers getting involved and arguing restraint of trade.

TiggyD · 03/07/2012 20:23

I think a 4 year ban would be fine for a first offence.

Think of blackmail.
A 16 year old athlete gets led astray by older runners. They then have power over him forever. Why should the young athlete confess and tell the authorities about the older runners when it would end his career before he even starts?

Minesaguinness · 03/07/2012 20:28

Sorry, you're all right, he did get a lifetime ban but it was overturned. I guess I meant you have to follow what the courts have said - they've said he can compete, so he should be treated fairly as a result.

camdancer · 03/07/2012 20:40

Tiggy do you think it is better that the 16 year old thinks "oh, it's ok, I'll be back competing at 20." They then take whatever it is, their body changes so they are more competitive (Dwayne Chambers body has been changed forever). I think that would be worth it for a lot of people. The only way to stop cheats forever is a lifetime ban - and I think that should be for all competitions not just the Olympics.

Hullygully · 03/07/2012 20:45

we must offer chances of redemption for all

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 03/07/2012 20:46

Does anyone actually believe that there are any drug free athletes left at top flight international level?
It's not that they don't use performance enhancing drugs, it's that they don't get caught.

Hullygully · 03/07/2012 20:47

^^ yars

Hullygully · 03/07/2012 20:47

Maybe they should do it the other way round and let everyone use anything?

Original poster
sensuallettuce · 03/07/2012 20:48

I don't think many footballers are drug free Hmm.

OP posts:
NovackNGood · 03/07/2012 20:49

He should be banned from competing for life. Yes he should be redeemed if you like but not to the level that involves him competing representing the nation again. If he wants to compete at that level he can go off and be a plastic fantastic for any other nation that takes him but the British should have kept their lifetime ban and kept drugs out of sport.

BackforGood · 03/07/2012 21:12

I think the lifetime ban should have been kept.
He deliberately decided to cheat. He cheated others out of their win, their moment of glory. He knew that (a lifetime ban) was the punishment if he got caught committing the crime, yet he still chose to do it. It wasn't an ill advised cold remedy, it was a deliberate decision to cheat.
I'm disgusted that he's been allowed back to compete internationally.

vj32 · 03/07/2012 21:18

I think a 4 year ban for a first deliberate offense (not an accident) including an Olympics and all other championships. Then lifetime after that. But it is completely pointless for GB athletes to be held to one rule and other nationalities to another. Some current international athletes have been caught over and over again for drugs and they are still allowed to compete.

ThePathanKhansWitch · 03/07/2012 21:55

Hully some people are seriously saying that should be considered Sad. I don't think many top flight sports are clean. Topically, tennis is full of dopers .

Allegedly.