A judo fighter has successfully appealed to be eligible to represent Great Britain in the Olympics after missing three drugs tests — but there is no guarantee that other offenders will receive the same treatment.
Peter Cousins, a light-heavyweight bronze medal-winner at this year’s European Championships, was suspended for three months for not being available for three out-of-competition tests and was automatically ruled ineligible for the Games. However, a British Olympic Association appeals panel accepted that there were “significant mitigating circumstances” and has reinstated him.
The case was widely seen as a test case for Christine Ohuruogo, the Commonwealth 400 metres champion, and Tim Don, the world triathlon champion. Both have been found guilty also of failing to be present at specified locations for out-of-competition visits by doping officials.
However, in a clear reference to these two cases, Simon Clegg, the BOA chief executive, said yesterday: “It is worth noting that the panel has very clearly stated that the facts of this case do not provide an automatic read across to cases in the future.”
The panel, chaired by Nicholas Stewart, QC, unanimously rejected Cousins’s case that the doping offence was minor. However, it accepted his alternative argument that at the time of the missed tests, there were technological problems with registering his whereabouts on the online system.
Advertisement
The panel also noted that the disciplinary committee of the British Judo Association accepted that Cousins had not deliberately set out to miss tests.
Cousins yesterday said: “I am pleased with the outcome of my appeal. I can continue to focus on my training as I look ahead towards the qualifying events for Beijing next year.”
Ohuruogo and Don are both planning to appeal to the BOA and also to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in Lausanne.