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Athletics

Chambers rules out Olympic ban challenge

26/09/2008

Dwain Chambers will not contest his lifetime Olympic ban over a positive drug test, he confirmed last night.

The sprinter was banned for life in July in accordance with a British Olympic Association by-law that prevents any athlete who has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs from competing at the Games.

He was caught using the banned steroid THG in 2003 but appears likely to continue his representation for Team GB in other athletics competitions.

He told BBC Radio Five Live: "Dragging the sport back through another court case is just going to be wrong. It's going to put a lot of pressure on everybody else.

"So, for now, we are just going to leave that alone and concentrate on making sure the next three years are as competitive as possible."

UK Athletics coach Charles van Commenee's recent announcement that he would be allowed back into Team GB was a welcome "surprise" which was "very warming", he added.

"Now that Charles has said what he has, it obviously means that he and UK Athletics are prepared to move forward and, with that in mind, hopefully we can look forward to a more positive outlook next year."