Ban 'deliberate' cheats for life - Radcliffe

Paula Radcliffe feels improving the tests to catch drug cheats must remain the priority as debate over a life ban from athletics for those found guilty of doping offences goes on.

Sprinter Dwain Chambers, 28, has been selected for the Norwich Union Great Britain team for next week’s SPAR European Cup following his return from a two-year suspension after a positive test for the banned designer drug THG [tetrahydrogestrinone].

Radcliffe, the marathon world champion and record holder, has long been a campaigner against the abuse of chemical enhancements in the sport.

During the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Edmonton, she famously up a placard reading ’EPO cheats out’ during the heats for the 5,000 metres in protest over the participation of Olga Yegorova, the Russian who had been allowed to race because of a technicality despite a positive test.

Radcliffe accepted it was “a very awkward issue” over whether a lifetime ban should be introduced, but felt the rigorous anti-doping test procedure must continue in earnest.

“I think if you willingly and deliberately cheat, cheat other athletes, the public and the sport, then you probably should be banned for life,” Radcliffe told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.

“But there are also cases where you are never really sure if somebody was actually guilty – was it a mistake? Did they accidentally take an over-the-counter remedy? – then they could find themselves banned for life.

“It is something which will go on to be debated for a long time, but the most important thing is we concentrate improving the test procedures so we do catch the cheats.”

Because of his drugs ban, Chambers will not be allowed to compete at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Radcliffe believes the sprinter, who has twice won the 100m title at the European Cup, deserves “some credit” for the way in which he accepted his position.

She reflected: “Under the rules of the sport at the moment, Dwain has served his ban, and has come back.

“You also have to give him some credit because he is one of the few people who have stood up and said ‘I was guilty and this is what I did’, admitted to more than he was actually called for, then served his time and has come back.

“The most important thing is we have a strong unified team which gels together and goes to perform well in the European Cup.

“If they change the rules so it is a lifetime ban, then that is different - but it is not at the moment.”

Radcliffe, 32, is currently regaining her fitness following surgery on her foot, and hopes to be ready to take part at the European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden during August, having claimed the 10,000m gold medal in 2002.

She said: “I am back to normal training now, and will be back on the track this week as well.

“It is just a case of being patient and in long-term the big goal is Beijing, and Osaka [World Championships] before that.

“Hopefully things will work out okay this year.

“I have qualified already for the European Championships, but I am just not doing anything silly, pushing my foot too hard and it is almost back to 100% now.

“It is just a case of waiting for the fitness to come back and I will race when I am ready.”