By Duncan Mackay

January 4 - Athletes have warned random drugs searches in the Olympic Village at London 2012 proposed by British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan would be "utterly disastrous".



As revealed first on insidethegames earlier today, Moynihan has proposed a new bill in the House of Lords to strengthen anti-doping measures.

The bill proposes an increase in the police's search powers and allows them to raid the Olympic village.

But British Athletes Commission chief executive Peter Gardner said: "We do not want random ‘stop and search’ in the Village.

"That would be utterly disastrous for the London Olympics.

"If there is good reason for a search based on intelligence then fine.

"But it’s one thing to be seen to be taking a tough stance on doping but quite another to make athletes feel like criminals."

Gardner plans to raise the issue with Andy Hunt, the chief executive of the BOA, at a meeting tomorrow.

He said: "If this bill gets through we want to know how exactly would they go about exercising the new powers."

Gardner believes that it is unlikely that anyone would risk taking performance-enhancing drugs into the Village - those that would be using drugs were more likely to do so in privately-rented accommodation.

He said: "There is nothing wrong in having a deterrent but the likelihood of anything being in the Village is almost non-existent.

"So long as we realise that and target our anti-doping efforts in the best places then that is fine."

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Moynihan proposes bill to allow police to search Olympic Village at London 2012