European Athletics yesterday took the unprecedented step of banning drug cheats from its major events. The decision was strengthened by the adverse reaction to the return in Birmingham of the Greek sprinter Ekaterini Thanou. A week ago, the sport's governing body in Europe revealed a proposal that they had sent to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to have suspensions increased for its competitions.
But a closer inspection of the European Athletics' constitution by John Lister, the British representative on their council, discovered they would not have to wait for the IAAF to sanction any rules.
The European Athletics council members voted unanimously 18-0 at their meeting in Birmingham to have athletes who have served at least a two-year doping suspension to be banned from their own championships for a further two years.
"Our message is very clear," said the European Athletics president, Hansjorg Wirz. "We will do what it takes to ensure the credibility of the sport and protect the health of athletes and young people.
"The council has unanimously decided that competing in our championships represents a special privilege and we must not allow the negative notoriety of the small number of athletes who cheat to spoil the experience or distract attention from those who follow the rules. This is a historic decision for us and we will propose to the IAAF congress in Osaka in August that it takes a similar position with regard to future IAAF championships."
The European Cup in June will be the first occasion in which suspended athletes will not be allowed to take part.
At the European Indoor Championships in Birmingham last weekend Thanou was booed when she made her comeback after serving a two-year suspension for failing to be available for a drug test before the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004.
The crowd's reaction during the heats and final, in which Thanou finished sixth, did not go down well with championship officials who are determined that track and field's image is no longer tarnished.
It is now likely that the international governing body will follow suit in Osaka, a decision which could lead to suspension from the Olympic Games. The IAAF president, Lamine Diack, and the general secretary, Pierre Weiss, were both at the European Athletics meeting.
While they may now face complaints about a restraint of trade, Pierce O'Callaghan, the European Athletics communication manager, said: "We are not trying to halt freedom of movement. They will still be able to compete in normal meetings, but it is unlikely they will have any value if they have not been to a championship for four years."
Britain's double decathlon gold medallist, Daley Thompson, insisted the squabbling over the rising price of the Olympics in London 2012 will be rewarded by the reaction to the games. He said: "The games have always been more expensive. Whatever it is, we could make it worthwhile with the good feeling and revenue it brings."
