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Anorak News | Hit And Run

Hit And Run

by | 25th, February 2004

‘FIRST the good news. English football in Europe is more than just Manchester United after Arsenal made a stride towards the Champions League’s last eight with a 3-2 win over Spain’s Celta Vigo.

Chambers reaches the finishing line

The Independent leads with that and shows a picture of the Gunners’ Brazilian midfielder Edu, scorer of a brace, being patted and mauled by his appreciative team-mates.

And now the bad news. Contrary to what some sections of the popular press have been claiming for many years, not all cheats are foreigners.

We have some of our own. And today his name is Dwain Chambers. The Telegraph leads with the rather depressing news that the European 100m champion has been banned form athletics for two years and from the Olympics for life after testing positive for a banned substance.

The story, by now old news, is that Chambers tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) at a pre-World Championship training camp back in August last year.

And now the slow turning wheels that stand for justice in sport have reached their decision.

And it’s one supported by such leading lights in the sport as David Moorcroft, the chief executive of UK Athletics.

“I believe it was the right verdict,” says he. “I’m deeply disappointed for Dwain but we all have to move on.”

And with a decent shot of THG we can move on at double-quick pace and talk about something more upbeat than an unmasked cheat.

And it is that Manchester United’s boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, is to receive a special Uefa award for becoming the first coach to take charge of 100 Champions League ties.

His side’s game in Porto tonight will mark a century of his involvement in the continent’s premier competition, writes the Telegraph.

So, well done, Sir Alex. Now let’s see if you can make it to 102…’



Posted: 25th, February 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink