Chambers launches appeal after sprint win

Dwain Chambers has qualified for next month's British Olympic trials and now plans to launch an appeal against the ban that will prevent him going to Beijing.

After winning his first 100metres race for 22 months at a low-key meeting in Greece, Chambers said: "I'll be in Beijing, don't worry. I'm sticking around. I am optimistic I will be in China and believe I can win a medal."

Chambers, 30, served a two-year ban for testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003, but is still restricted by a lifetime Olympic ban from the British Olympic Association.

The sprinter's solicitor, Nick Collins, says an appeal at the High Court could take place before the end of next week.

Collins said: "We have already issued proceedings but we had to wait for Dwain to clock a qualifying time. Now he's made it, we are finalising the paperwork." Chambers said: "The ruling is unfair and this exists only in Britain. I am just pleased to be back into the swing of competition. It was good to be performing today. I'm very happy."

He beat American Mardy Scales in a time of 10.26sec to narrowly miss the standard set for Olympic selection but was well inside the 10.85sec qualifying mark for the British trials.

It was his first 100m victory since winning relay gold at the 2006 European Championships when team-mate Darren Campbell refused to join him on a lap of honour.