Mel Marshall wants sport to stand firm in the face of drug cheats and explore every avenue to protect those who play by fair means and send a strong message to those who don’t.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has hinted there will be no adjustment of suspensions because of the COVID-19 crisis if “natural justice” is to be served.
Sebastian Coe, head of World Athletics, believes the issue needs further consideration, and will listen to what the independent Athletics Integrity Unit has to say – although there is no such body in swimming.
Marshall is coach to Olympic 100m breaststroke champion Adam Peaty and Luke Greenbank at Loughborough and points to the impact of the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in February when it upheld an appeal by WADA with Sun Yang subsequently banned for eight years.
It was, she said, a day that all clean athletes could celebrate and she urged the authorities to ensure they would continue to stand firm.
Photo Courtesy: Mel Marshall and Adam Peaty
Marshall told Swimming World:
“When CAS have stood up and sent a strong message I know that the community of sport and those people who play fairly and honestly, had probably one of the best days they’ve had in sport.
“When I look at the athletes when CAS have made that strong decision it was a smile and a sheer joyous day because justice is important.
“It’s important that people are strong and it’s important that people send a strong message that the community of sport that plays fairly does not want those things involved.
“When CAS stands up and makes strong decisions the community was joyous as it was looking like it was saving the community of performance sport.”
So too does Marshall urge the authorities to relentless pursue the dopers who she believes have a significant head start.
“We must continue to search for cheats. Doping tests catch people that have tested positive but I think cheaters are miles ahead and we must continue to search for the honesty and integrity that sport is supposed to be about.
“It’s not acceptable and I think we need to be making sure that we are trying to send the strongest message we can so people think twice.
“We need to make sure we are catching cheaters and I think we may need to have a different approach as to how they get caught.”