Chambers named in British team

Athletics:   Dwain Chambers has won his battle to be part of the British team at next month's World Indoor Championships in …

Athletics:  Dwain Chambers has won his battle to be part of the British team at next month's World Indoor Championships in Valencia even though the UK Athletics (UKA) selection committee were "unanimous in their desire not to select him".

Chambers won the 60 metres trial race at Sheffield last weekend which under UKA selection procedures should have guaranteed him an automatic place.

But UKA, in an information letter sent to athletes prior to Christmas, included an "exceptional circumstances" ruling, whereby they could have omitted him.

Nick Collins, the athlete's solicitor, had already said before today's announcement they would take UKA to the High Court for "restraint of trade" if he were omitted.

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However Chambers this afternoon was given the all-clear by the selectors to wear a British vest for the first time since the 2006 European Championships.

After announcing that Chambers was in the team, UKA's World Indoors selection committee issued a strongly-worded statement.

It said: "Based on his performance at the Norwich Union World Trials, the Selection Committee has selected Dwain Chambers for a place in the 60 metres at the 2008 World Indoors in Valencia.

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

"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."

The statement continued: "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.

"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."

Just weeks after returning from a two-year drugs suspension, Chambers reached the 100m final at the European Championships in Gothenburg, finishing seventh.

Then, as a stand-in for an injury-depleted 4x100m relay team, he ran the first leg as they claimed the gold medal in the Ulleval stadium.

UKA performance director Dave Collins acclaimed Chambers' performances in Sweden, praising his inspiration and the experience he offered to younger athletes.

But after making a second return to athletics, the 29-year-old former drug cheat now finds himself out of favour with the governing body and particularly its chief executive Niels de Vos.

The selectors, claiming to be looking towards the future, have made it very plain Chambers does not figure in their plans in the build-up to the 2012 Olympic Games in particular.

De Vos initially banned Chambers from competing in the trials, claiming he must undergo an extensive period of drug testing.

His understanding was that by coming off UK Sport's testing register when pursuing an American football career last year, Chambers made himself ineligible to compete for his country for 12 months.

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) overruled this decision and UKA reluctantly allowed Chambers to compete in the trials.

De Vos, however, is determined to amend UKA's Athletics Constitution and prevent any athlete who has committed an anti-doping violation from competing in British colours.