Sir, Yet again I am astounded at the hypocrisy of the British Government when it comes to sport and politics.
On the one hand, Britain wants to bar the Zimbabwe cricket team in an effort to send a strong critical message to Mugabe’s totalitarian regime. On the other hand, the British Olympic Committee will insist that British athletes sign a gagging order prohibiting them on speaking out on political issues while participating in the Beijing Games so that they don’t offend the Chinese Government (Sport, Feb 10). Clearly it’s a case of trade before justice.
Bev Clark
Harare, Zimbabwe
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Sir, I did not know that China was at fault over Darfur, but I do know that it continues to prop up the illegal and repressive regime in Burma.
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It should not only be Mr Spielberg who acts in protest (report, Feb 13). All involved in the Olympic Games, especially potential spectators, should wash their hands of them this year.
The world should orchestrate a clear statement to the Chinese authorities that their cruelty to their own citizens and their support of regimes who do the same is unacceptable.
David Pitts
East Molesey, Surrey
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Sir, Now that the UK Athletics authorities have selected a convicted drug user to represent the UK in an international event (letter, Feb 13), perhaps it is time to accept the inevitability of drug abuse in athletics and invite the pharmaceutical companies to sponsor the 2012 Olympics, removing the £9 billion drug-testing costs and solving the problems of funding at one fell swoop.
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Tom Williams
Oxford
Sir, Carl Myerscough, the shot putter who in 1999 was suspended for two years as a result of a positive drugs tests, has been selected by UK Athletics for the World Indoor Championships. Why has Dwain Chambers been treated so differently?
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Marcus Brooke
Glasgow
Sir, Speaking as a drug-free sporting enthusiast, I am appalled at the complete lack of moral fibre shown by the athletics committee in selecting Dwain Chambers to represent this country. This sends out completely the wrong message to the thousands of athletes competing regularly in events all over the country. The committee’s grovelling statement only adds insult to injury — if the committee was so unanimous in its desire not to select Chambers why did not it just say “no”?
Michael Dillon
Bickley, Kent
Sir, Dwain Chambers obviously has no concept of sportsmanship or fair play, having previously taken drugs in competition against his peers.
It now seems that he has neither conscience nor decency and, despite the strength of feelings of athletes and sporting organisations, threatens legal action instead of withdrawing.
Angus I. Campbell
Bathgate, West Lothian
Sir, If the British team feel so strongly about Dwain Chambers’ inclusion, they should vote with their feet — I suspect they will not dare.
Tony Pristavec
Penderyn, Glamorgan