Chambers set to fight ban

Dwain Chambers has taken what appears to be the first step in his bid to challenge the Olympic ban imposed upon him by the British Olympic Association.

A BOA by-law automatically imposes lifetime bans upon athletes who commit doping offences, and that applies to Chambers who tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinome (THG) in August 2003.

"We can confirm that Dwain Chambers will be taking proceedings to secure his eligibility/participation in the Olympic and National trials in Birmingham from 11-13 July," said Nick Collins, the athlete's lawyer, in a statement.

Chambers, after serving his two-year suspension, returned to competition in 2006 and quickly established himself as the country's top sprinter, winning a European Championships 4x100metres gold medal in Gothenburg.

But the following year, for financial reasons, he pursued what was to become an unsuccessful career in American football with Hamburg.

After that he returned to athletics in January this year but after UK Athletics attempted to put his international career on hold he threatened legal action in an attempt to persuade them he was eligible to compete at that level.

Almost immediately Chambers proved himself as a world class performer, winning the World Indoors 60m silver medal in Valencia at the beginning of March.

The 30-year-old Londoner then indicated he was likely to challenge the BOA ruling either through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) or in the High Court.

However, his plans were put on hold when he undertook a month's trial with Castleford rugby league club but was unable to secure a contract with the Yorkshire side.

Now, if he is to compete in Beijing, it is inevitable his participation will be resolved in the High Court.