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Rugby League

Chambers set to make Castleford debut in friendly game

17/04/2008

Former Olympic sprinter Dwain Chambers will make his rugby league debut for the Castleford Tigers in a friendly against York City Knights.

Chambers is on a one-month contract at Castleford which ends at the end of April.

The game against York at the Jungle on Sunday April 27th may be his only chance to play in a competitive game and earn a contract until the end of the season.

Castleford coach Terry Matterson admitted that he had yet to make up his mind on whether to award Chambers a contract and added that it would have been "too dangerous" to throw the 30-year-old straight into a Super League fixture.

"We asked permission from the league to play a reserve-grade friendly with a view to Dwain being able to play," said Castleford spokesman David Smart.

"It is subject to his ongoing development. Dwain is progressing well in training and the coaching staff will continue to monitor progress before making a final decision."

Super League officials have yet to announce if they will allow Chambers to play in the league if he is given a contract by Castleford.

However, they have said he is free to play in reserve or academy games.

Chambers was banned from athletics for two years in 2003 after he tested positive for the steroid THG.

He made his return to the sport earlier this year by winning a silver medal in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships.

UK athletics has banned him from competing in the Beijing Olympics in the summer and that is the reason why he has tried to forge a career in rugby league, although he admitted that he had never played the sport before his time at Castleford.