Moynihan Will Resist Any Chambers Challenge Over Olympic Ban

The British Olympic Association will spare no expense in resisting any attempt by Dwain Chambers to challenge his lifetime ban from Olympic competition, according to the chairman, Lord Moynihan, who yesterday vowed to vigorously defend its regulations against "cheats".

Chambers will meet his lawyers within days to consider the next step in his battle to win a place at the Beijing Olympics, but after Moynihan's strident intervention he should be in no doubt that any legal challenge will be vigorously defended.

Chambers is banned for life under BOA regulations because of his use of steroids, an offense that earned him a two-year ban that expired in 2006. Since returning to the track this year he has made no secret of his desire to run in Beijing, and a silver medal in the 60 meters at last week's World Indoor Championships has encouraged Chambers to examine his prospects in court.

The BOA is the only national Olympic committee that imposes life bans for doping, and the former Wada president Dick Pound said last week that in his opinion the bylaw is vulnerable to challenge. Speaking at the BOA's national assembly yesterday, however, Moynihan vowed to defend any challenge. "There will be no room for cheats in the British team as long as I am involved with the British Olympic Association," he said. "I will robustly and vigorously defend our bylaws in the interest of all the athletes who seek to represent us both in this generation and future generations - and I'm not going to trade that in for any financial interest."

The BOA is currently attempting to raise around £3m to finance the trip to Beijing, but Moynihan said he would release significant funds to defend any case. "We will pay whatever is necessary to have top lawyers represent us and put the strongest case in support of that ban. What matters is the principle - we will send a clean team to Beijing and there will be no room for doping cheats." Chambers' solicitor Nick Collins was unavailable for comment last night.

Moynihan also said he hopes a British team will enter the 2012 football tournament. The football associations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are opposed to fielding one, leaving the FA as the only willing participant.