Moses defends Chambers

Ed Moses believes preventing Dwain Chambers from appearing at the Beijing Olympics would be "almost like a death sentence".

Dwain Chambers (centre) wins the Norwich Union 100m Olympic trial race on Saturday.

LONDON // The American Olympic great Ed Moses believes preventing former drug cheat Dwain Chambers from appearing at the Beijing Olympics would be "almost like a death sentence". Moses, a gold medalist in the 400metres hurdles in 1976 and 1984 and a major force in the widespread adoption of out-of-competition testing, is firm in his belief that dopers should be made to pay for their offences. But he believes the British Olympic Association's own bylaws should not be more stringent than the International Olympic Committee's guidelines.

Chambers won the Olympic trial 100m in Birmingham on Saturday, but still needs a victory in the courts on Wednesday if he is to make his Beijing dream a reality. Moses told the BBC in England: "It is almost like a death sentence. "We have to deal with this problem where a national ruling body has rules that are more restrictive than the IOC. "You have to be fair to the athletes and there will be other athletes in China who have tested positive in the past.

"I don't like the fact that Dwain has had a positive test, but from an athletes' rights point of view you have to stand up for him on this matter." Moses added on the punishments for doping: "If the IOC allow him to compete then there shouldn't be any reason why (he cannot go to the Games). "He's served his penalty having tested positive and he's been a lot more contrite in the last six months." I feel athletes have rights as well, no matter what you feel about him personally because he's had a positive test."

* PA Sport