In October 2003, Dwain Chambers was tested positive for the steroid THG. The impact was huge. Like a mistaken marriage, his accomplishments were annulled from 2002 onwards. This not only affected his personal achievements (including a European record), but all team medals. Dwain was banned for 2 years. Quite right too.
Cheating is a difficult barrier for fans to get over. Dwain damaged a much wider circle than simply himself. The sport, his family, his friends. They were all impacted by the vicious circle in which he found himself.
I could spend a while on here lambasting the man and indeed documenting his subsequent pursuits - remarkably even including the polar opposite game of rugby league. But I won't. Indeed my opinion of Chambers, 30, has come full circle to date to one now of admiration.
I need to be clear in my definition of admiration however. It’s not the drug taking I admire, far from it. It’s the courage that he has shown in adversity. To you or I, peer group negativity may last for a day, or even a week, after a harsh word or two. But Chambers has been vilified in the media, blocked from world wide events, booed at every event he has attended, and had his revenue streams cut. But the man from north London has kept his mind focussed and stormed to a deserved European title in Turin yesterday.
The list could go on. But I won't. He will surely divide opinion, but you can't fail but be impressed by his perseverance. Apparently his times should translate to sub 9.90 for the 100m – that is a feat which will be impossible to ignore.
Cheating is a difficult barrier for fans to get over. Dwain damaged a much wider circle than simply himself. The sport, his family, his friends. They were all impacted by the vicious circle in which he found himself.
I could spend a while on here lambasting the man and indeed documenting his subsequent pursuits - remarkably even including the polar opposite game of rugby league. But I won't. Indeed my opinion of Chambers, 30, has come full circle to date to one now of admiration.
I need to be clear in my definition of admiration however. It’s not the drug taking I admire, far from it. It’s the courage that he has shown in adversity. To you or I, peer group negativity may last for a day, or even a week, after a harsh word or two. But Chambers has been vilified in the media, blocked from world wide events, booed at every event he has attended, and had his revenue streams cut. But the man from north London has kept his mind focussed and stormed to a deserved European title in Turin yesterday.
The list could go on. But I won't. He will surely divide opinion, but you can't fail but be impressed by his perseverance. Apparently his times should translate to sub 9.90 for the 100m – that is a feat which will be impossible to ignore.
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