London 2012 Olympics: Linford Christie and Dwain Chambers barred from buying tickets

Former Olympic champion Linford Christie and world indoor champion Dwain Chambers will be barred from buying London 2012 tickets through the British Olympic Association because of their previous drug bans.

Linford Christie will not be allowed to buy tickets for London 2012 because of his previous drugs bans.

By Simon Hart


The BOA announced earlier this week that all Team GB Olympians from previous Games would have the opportunity to purchase four tickets to the London Olympics from the BOA’s own allocation, with one pair of tickets being made available for the sport in which they competed.

But the BOA has confirmed that athletes who have been found guilty of a serious doping offence will be excluded from the offer.

A BOA spokesman said: “Individuals who have been found guilty of a doping offence are not extended the same privileges as other members of Team GB. This includes the opportunity to purchase tickets through the BOA to the Olympic Games.”

Christie, the 1992 Olympic 100 metres champion, served a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid nandrolone in 1999, though he has always protested his innocence. Chambers, who finished fourth in the 100 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was also suspended for two years after testing positive for the designer steroid THG after becoming involved in the BALCO doping scandal. He later admitted taking a cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs.

Cyclist David Millar, who competed at the Sydney Olympics, also faces being excluded from the BOA ticket offer after his confession to taking the blood-boosting drug EPO led to a two-year ban in 2004.