Millar and the IOC

[rich p]

Chambers' lawyer was saying that if he (Chambers) wasn't selected, he'd go to court and force them???? How would that work? (I think the BOA are resigned to picking him).

Athletics has a time based criterion IIRC but cycling doesn't, so it would be possible for UK Athletics to be obliged to pick Chambers. Cycling has a different way of choosing the teams for obvious reasons.

 

[dellzeqq]

of course, but I had somehow imagined that the places on the team were absolutely in the gift of the selectors. Apparently not....

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The road race is a team sport, so the selectors have all kinds of discretion as to how the team is made up. 100m sprint is very different. You pick the fastest individuals. Doesn't matter if anyone likes them or not.

 

[mcshroom]

The criteria for the 100m is first 2 in the trial definitely (if they have the A standard) and then BOA decides for the other place. If Chambers finishes third then I doubt he'll have a hope of being selected on discretion, but if he's in the first two then there's no real choice.

 

[dellzeqq]

If there is any kind of split on one of the earlier or middle ascents of Box Hill and Cav and a few of the other 'pure' sprinters are the wrong side of it we can expect quite a few teams to work hard to keep it that way..

the problem with that is that the roads around Headley are not helpful to a breakaway. Actually they're pretty helpful for excursions in to hedges.

 

[oldroadman]

he road team needs a good leader to run the tactics, and DM proved he can do that better than almost anyone at the Worlds. So if GBCT decide he is the man, in he goes. I can't imagine he would be bothered in the slightest by all the "holier than thou" people who have popped up in the media this week. He did, after all, put his hands up to using EPO, took his ban YEARS AGO, and has moved on as a leading person in the clean racing campaign. Now Ben Swift has declared his intention to try for a place, there could be a very strong and well run team there, with any luck ready to deliver Cav with the best possible chance on the Mall.
The British are a strange nation, we would rather lose than play all the options, whilst EVERY OTHER COUNTRY accepts people do something wrong, get punished, and they get to play if good enough. Never mind in past days when we raced against eastern block "amateurs" who were full time "students" or "army officers", with full state support including medical "assistance" and "preparation". And lost, but being terribly fair and British we didn't mind!
Moral wins don't get medals - and that is all the public and funders care about in the end.

 

[raindog]

I'd quite like to see him selected and then refuse. The problem is, if he rides, the ordinary public will simply think there's a doped up rider in the team - not good for the sport imo. In fact, the whole thing's a mess as usual.

 

[gavintc]

I'd quite like to see him selected and then refuse. The problem is, if he rides, the ordinary public will simply think there's a doped up rider in the team - not good for the sport imo. In fact, the whole thing's a mess as usual.

I hope does this. Indeed, he has been quiet of late on the subject. I suspect he is evaluating the issue and will make a comment once ready.

 

[just jim]

I'd quite like to see him selected and then refuse. The problem is, if he rides, the ordinary public will simply think there's a doped up rider in the team - not good for the sport imo. In fact, the whole thing's a mess as usual.

I was thinking along the same lines but Millar in particular has paid the price and has made his current views (formed by a personally and financially destructive experience) as public as anyone could. Hasn't Millar atoned for his sins?

 

[Scoosh]

Good article by Richard Moore in Scotland on Sunday.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I have a very high regard for DM. His recent book did its best to lessen that, but failed. He has more than enough talent, guts and determination to make up for coming across not very well in print.

I was so pleased that he took his ban on the chin and got back down to racing. In the professional world where he operates, I think it right that he was welcomed back.

But I think the Olympic ban should be for life. He, Chambers, Ohurougu* and others have cheated. Drug cheats will generally win over WADA, but the victory can be slowed by Draconian measures against those who cheat.

I retain my very high regard for DM and I continue to hope that he won't ride in the Olympics.

* I know there was no positive test, but the circumstances were laughable.

 

[gavintc]

Good article by Richard Moore in Scotland on Sunday.

I had not spotted this one - as you stated, a good article.

 

[green1]

I think that Wada should be bringing their code upto the BOA byelaw not the other way around. At the end of the day they knew about the byelaw but took the chance anyway. They can't (or shouldn't now its been decided they can) have their cake and eat it.

 

[Alun]

I think that Wada should be bringing their code upto the BOA byelaw not the other way around. At the end of the day they knew about the byelaw but took the chance anyway. They can't (or shouldn't now its been decided they can) have their cake and eat it.

The BOA signed up for the 2 year rule, if it wants to impose a lifetime ban, it should campaign and get the support of other sporting bodies to get the rule changed.

 

[raindog]

Hasn't Millar atoned for his sins?

Yes, but that's not what I meant.