WADA seeks resolution of dispute over British bans

The World Anti-Doping Agency WADA ruled Sunday that the British Olympic Associations rule violates the global anti-doping code, an embarrassment for the nation that will host next years London Games.Britain is the only country that enforces life bans on drug cheats, and the BOA was the only national Olympic committee found in noncompliance with the code by WADAs foundation board in Montreal.WADA director general David Howman said Monday that its now up to the BOA to either discard the rule or appeal the noncompliance finding to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.They could change their rule today and it wouldnt need to go any further, Howman said in a conference call with reporters.If Britain does take the case to court, WADA is confident the rule would be overturned in line with a previous decision involving the International Olympic Committees own tough doping provision.Im sure that could be dealt with relatively quickly, Howman said. Its not a very big question and it has already been discussed and resolved by previous CAS panels. I think its pretty simple.The BOAs bylaw has been under scrutiny since CAS nullified the IOCs rule that would have banned any athletes who received a doping suspension of more than six months from competing in the next games.The court ruled that the IOC provision amounted to a second sanction and did not conform with the WADA code. The ruling cleared American 400-meter runner LaShawn Merritt, who completed a 21-month doping ban in July, to defend his Olympic title in London next year.Howman called the BOAs noncompliance a technical issue that could be resolved if the committee chooses to appeal.