Chambers stalling on Olympic challenge

Dwain Chambers will not decide whether to appeal against his lifetime ban from the Olympic Games until after next month's IAAF World Indoor Championships.

The former drug cheat has reserved his right to either challenge a British Olympic Association (BOA) regulation directly or invoke High Court legal action allowing him to compete in Beijing this summer.

But sprinter Chambers is adamant he must concentrate fully on his preparations for Valencia, where he is determined to bring home a medal for the Norwich Union GB team.

However, after the conclusion of the three-day championships on March 9 he is expected to challenge the ban preventing him from ever competing at Olympic level.

Chambers, who tested positive for the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) in 2003 and served a two-year suspension is, according to his supporters, determined to represent Team GB at the Olympics.

To achieve that ambition he will have to challenge a 1992 BOA bylaw that stops any convicted drug cheat, unless they can provide mitigating circumstances, competing for Britain at future Games.

Damion Silk, Chambers' public relations advisor, said he would not be making any further statements on a likely appeal until Chambers returns from the World Indoors.

Mr Silk also said he had no comment to make about how Chambers, should he go ahead with legal action, would fund the costs of challenging the BOA regulation.

"We'll talk about that after Valencia," he said, insisting for the moment the only thing on Chambers' mind is the fast-approaching championships.