LONDON, July 18, 2008 (AFP) - Britain's Olympic chiefs have vowed to review their policy of handing out lifetime bans to drugs cheats after next month's Beijing Games.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) emerged unscathed from its High Court battle with Dwain Chambers on Friday as Mr Justice Mackay refused to overturn the BOA bylaw that precluded the controversial sprinter from competing in China.

Chambers, who served a two-year suspension for testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003, claimed the ban was a restraint of trade.

Although Justice Mackay ruled against him, the judge did admit the bylaw could have been challenged successfully with more time to make the case.

That criticism has prompted the BOA to order a survey of all Olympic athletes for their views to see if they can finetune the bylaw.

But the organisation's chairman Lord Moynihan insisted Friday's victory over Chambers would also strengthen their resolve to keep the rule in some form.

'We will ask the British Athletes Commission, which is independent of us, to undertake a survey on the bylaw after Beijing.

'This has strengthened our resolve that it's the right approach but we also want to make sure we are reflecting the athletes' wishes.

'I don't believe this will change that bylaw but we need to keep it under review.'

Moynihan claimed a previous survey had shown 90 percent of the athletes were in favour of the BOA's lifetime Olympic ban for serious drugs cheats.

The International Olympic Committee last month toughened their rules so that any athlete being banned for six months or more for a doping offence would miss the next Games after their ban has ended.

Moynihan added: 'We are aware that for 16 years we have taken a very tough line and the feeling has been to take into account what the athletes want.

'The IOC have now made a major move in the direction of the BOA, WADA have toughened up their position and with the High Court decision I think the tide has turned in our favour.'

Moynihan insisted he was not jubilant to have won as Chambers' actions had damaged Olympic sport.

'I'm clearly pleased that the bylaw stays in place and is respected by the courts, but it's a matter for regret that our best sprinter has put himself out of the running to shine in Beijing purely by his own actions,' he said.

'We have however sent a powerful message that serious drug offenders will not be part of Team GB.'