Myerscough to challenge BOA on Athens ban

Carl Myerscough is preparing to contest the rule which prevents him from competing at the Olympic Games again.

The British shot put record-holder, who was suspended for two years after a cocktail of banned substances was found in a sample in 1999, has asked his solicitors to look at the British Olympic Association bylaw with a view to being cleared to compete at the 2004 Athens Games. They will argue that national associations in other countries accept that the serving of any suspension imposed is punishment enough.

There is plenty of support for Myerscough, who has broken both the indoor and outdoor records since returning to competition 22 months ago.

The UK Athletics performance director, Max Jones, said: "We have sympathy with his case and it seems the BOA is out of culture with everyone else."

However, the BOA spokesman Philip Pope countered: "We are very comfortable with the rule which was clarified after the Sydney Olympics."

The United Kingdom pole vault record-holder, Janine Whitlock, who failed a drugs test in June 2002, is also appealing against the bylaw so she can compete in Athens.