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Chambers Olympics decision delayed again

17/07/2008

Sprinter Dwain Chambers will not find out until tomorrow whether he will be allowed to represent Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

At a high court hearing today, which had already been put back by one day after it was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, the judge delayed the decision by a further 24 hours.

The 100m runner is challenging a life ban imposed upon him in accordance with a British Olympic Association (BOA) law that prevents any athlete who has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs from competing at the Games.

Opinion is mixed over whether Chambers' appeal will be successful. He is challenging the law on the basis that it is a restraint of trade.

If the ruling goes in favour of Chambers, the BOA will be forced to name him in their lineup for the 100m as he has achieved the standard qualifying time and he finished first in the British Olympic trial at Birmingham last weekend.

Chambers could also compete in the 4x100m relay in China, and it was this event at the 2006 World Championships that caused further controversy.

The sprinter's team-mate Darren Campbell staged a one-man protest in refusing to join the team on a lap of honour after winning gold.

Campbell disagreed with the decision to allow Chambers to run because of his admission that he had used the banned steroid THG in 2003, for which he received a two-year ban.