Donovan was the coach and manager of the national karate team for more than 30 years until his retirement in 2008 - during which time he helped Great Britain to five consecutive World Team Championship victories.
All those achievements however, would pale in significance to the chance to go for gold on the Olympic stage - something Donovan was deprived throughout his career.
Karate came mighty close to Olympic inclusion in 2005 when, along with squash, the martial art was put to a controversial two-thirds majority vote at the IOC Congress in Singapore - neither eventually made the cut for London 2012.
But on August 13 karate will be in direct competition with squash, roller sports, baseball, softball, golf and rugby sevens as those seven sports are cut down to two ahead of the IOC Congress in Copenhagen in October.
This time around, the two sports will only need a simple majority in the Danish capital to ensure their inclusion at 2016 - something Donovan is convinced is long overdue.
And the current technical adviser to the English Karate Federation is adamant the Olympics is just the carrot karate needs to sustain its growth in the UK.
"There's not a sports club in the country where you won't find a karate club - or even two or three. It's the tenth most popular sport in the world and there's 50 million people training now," said Donovan.
"We should have been included in the Olympics many years ago - it's long overdue. We thought we would get in a few years ago but it wasn't to be.
"It would have been great to have competed on home soil - we would have loved it - but we'll keep fighting on.
"Rugby and golf are professional sports - they shouldn't be allowed in the Olympics. Karate is one of the most popular sports in the world and that's often forgotten.
"It would mean so much for the young people of this country who would have a goal at the end of the line.
"Karate has a rich history in this country and we've been very successful and would be near the top of the medal table that's for sure.
"I'm sure everyone in karate would use the Olympics as their end goal. 2016 is quite a few years away but it would give the sport a boost in this country both now and when the time comes.
"Those competing in 2016 will not even be in the national team now so it'll raise the profile of karate in this country even more.
"We've got all the structure and facilities in place with the English Karate Federation and British Karate Federation, which the EKF falls under."
Opponents to karate's inclusion draw attention to the existence of both judo and taekwondo on the Olympic schedule already and claim a third martial art would be one too many.
That coupled with the tarnished name taekwondo received at the Beijing Olympics for sub-standard judging - which prompted Cuba's Angel Valodia Matos to take matters into his own hands (or feet).
But Donovan is keeping his fingers crossed the IOC do not take such a short-sighted approach.
"It's a concern that judo and taekwondo are already in the Olympics but they're completely different sports," he added.
"Karate has at least five times more people taking part worldwide.
"I hope it [the taekwondo controversy in Beijing] does not affect us but karate is completely different to taekwondo.
"You would never get anybody act that way on the mat in karate - it teaches self-control. I hope the IOC look past that.
"I'm really hoping we're successful this time round - I haven't got many nails left - but if we don't then we will still be going forward and marching on. We'd keep trying and would be there again in 2020 until we have our chance."
More than the games - UK
Olympic Karate Overdue For Donovan
