Alex Ray
04-06-2007, 08:22 PM
Source: www.world-track.org (http://www.world-track.org)
Published: April 4, 2007
British quarter-miler Christine Ohuruogu’s has had her appeal against a one-year ban dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday.
Ohuruogu, who defeated World and Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling from the Bahamas to win Commonwealth Games tittle in Melbourne, Australia, last March, was banned for a season last summer after missing three doping tests.
The sprinter was hoping that the severity of the ban would be decreased by the CAS, who, however, chose to support the initial decision of the IAAF - a decision which sees her reacting emotionally.
“I am totally stunned by CAS’ decision and the length of time it has taken them to reach,” she said.
“The comment from CAS, that ‘there is no suggestion that she is guilty of taking drugs in order to enhance her performance or otherwise and, indeed, this case can be viewed in all the circumstances as a busy young athlete being forgetful’, does nothing to make this situation easier to bear.
“Today’s ruling has robbed me of my chance to represent Great Britain in any future Olympic Games and I find myself unable to come to terms with this.”
Meanwhile, UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said: “UK Athletics is committed to working with all anti-doping agencies to ensure an out-of-competition testing regime is in place that is transparent and fair to all athletes, and that is harmonised across all sports.”
Warner was hoping to have Ohuruogu on this summer’s World Championships in Osaka from 25 August to 2 September and he is still optimistic.
“If she can have a successful training period we would be keen for her to pose a very pleasant problem for our selectors,” said Warner.
Published: April 4, 2007
British quarter-miler Christine Ohuruogu’s has had her appeal against a one-year ban dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday.
Ohuruogu, who defeated World and Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling from the Bahamas to win Commonwealth Games tittle in Melbourne, Australia, last March, was banned for a season last summer after missing three doping tests.
The sprinter was hoping that the severity of the ban would be decreased by the CAS, who, however, chose to support the initial decision of the IAAF - a decision which sees her reacting emotionally.
“I am totally stunned by CAS’ decision and the length of time it has taken them to reach,” she said.
“The comment from CAS, that ‘there is no suggestion that she is guilty of taking drugs in order to enhance her performance or otherwise and, indeed, this case can be viewed in all the circumstances as a busy young athlete being forgetful’, does nothing to make this situation easier to bear.
“Today’s ruling has robbed me of my chance to represent Great Britain in any future Olympic Games and I find myself unable to come to terms with this.”
Meanwhile, UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said: “UK Athletics is committed to working with all anti-doping agencies to ensure an out-of-competition testing regime is in place that is transparent and fair to all athletes, and that is harmonised across all sports.”
Warner was hoping to have Ohuruogu on this summer’s World Championships in Osaka from 25 August to 2 September and he is still optimistic.
“If she can have a successful training period we would be keen for her to pose a very pleasant problem for our selectors,” said Warner.