LONDON (AP) — The British Olympic Association says it is committed to defending its doping rule of a lifetime ban for any of its athletes previously banned from competing at the Olympics .
That comes despite the ruling by the Court of Arbitration on Thursday that lifted American Lashawn Merritt’s ban, allowing him to defend his title in the 400 meters at the 2012 London Olympics.
It annulled an IOC rule that bars athletes who has received a doping suspension of more than six months from competing in the next Olympics.
BOA chairman Colin Moynihan says the World Anti-Doping Agency supports the bylaw that bans athletes who have incurred a doping suspension from representing Britain at the games.
Moynihan says WADA’s support for its “tough but fair” stance was “critical” and the BOA would be writing to the International Olympic Committee for backing.
