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Chambers selected in GB squad for World Indoor Championships

12/02/2008

UK Athletics (UKA) has selected sprinter Dwain Chambers in the Great Britain squad for the World Indoor Championships in Valencia next month.

The 29-year-old won the 60-metre sprint at the world trials at the weekend, meaning his selection was guaranteed as per the rules of the UKA itself.

Despite Chambers' victory the selection committee had been clear that it would attempt to block his bid to compete for Great Britain due to his two-year ban for using performance-enhancing drugs, which ended in 2006.

However, it appears this has been unsuccessful because of the strict criteria in place that enables athletes to qualify for the GB team.

In selecting Chambers, UKA issued a damning statement outlining their wish to avoid having to pick the Belgrave Harriers athlete due to his tainted past.

"Based on his performance at the world trials, the selection committee has selected Dwain Chambers for a place in the 60 metres at the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia," it read.

"In taking this action, however, the selectors wished to issue a statement, which made clear their concerns."

The statement in question reads: "The committee was unanimous in its desire not to select Dwain.

"Taking him to the World Indoors deprives young, upwardly mobile committed athletes of this key development opportunity.

"Our world-class performance programme is focused on achievement at Olympic and world level.

"On this basis, it is extremely frustrating to leave young athletes at home; eligible for Beijing, in possession of the qualifying standard and committed to ongoing participation in a drug-free sport.

"In contrast, we have to take an individual whose sudden return, especially when considered against his previous actions and comments, suggests that he may be using the whole process for his own ends.

"Unfortunately, the committee felt that the selection criteria pertaining to the winner of the trials, coupled with the manner of Dwain's performance, left them no room to take any other decision."

There was also a hint that there may be some rule changes in the offing, which will be designed to prevent UKA having their hands tied on similar matters in the future.

"We wish all the selected athletes well at the event, but will certainly explore ways in which future selections can be made to match the true 'spirit' of our sport," the statement concluded.

The initial 21-person squad will be supplemented by a second wave of selections, due to be announced in two weeks' time.

The full team, as it stands, is as follows:

Men – 60m: Dwain Chambers (Belgrave Harriers). 400m: Richard Buck (City of York), Steve Green (Newham & Essex Beagles). 800m: Richard Hill (Notts AC). 1500m: James McIlroy (WSE Hounslow). 60mH: Allan Scott (Shaftesbury Barnet). High Jump: Samson Oni (Belgrave Harriers). Pole Vault: Steve Lewis (Newham & Essex Beagles). Long Jump: Chris Tomlinson (Newham & Essex Beagles). Triple Jump: Phillips Idowu (Belgrave Harriers). Shot Put: Carl Myerscough (Blackpool). 4x400m Relay: Buck, Green.

Women – 60m: Laura Turner (Harrow AC), Jeanette Kwakye (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies). 800m: Jenny Meadows (Wigan & District Harriers), Marilyn Okoro (Shaftesbury Barnet). 1500m: Jemma Simpson (Newquay & Par), Susan Scott (City of Glasgow). 3000m: Helen Clitheroe (Preston Harriers). 60mH: Sarah Claxton (Woodford Green & Essex Ladies). Pole Vault: Kate Dennison (Sale Harriers Manchester). Pentathlon: Kelly Sotherton (Birchfield Harriers).