Chambers’ summer exclusion order is put on hold by UKA

10:00am Saturday 16th February 2008

DWAIN Chambers might not be welcome at today's Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham but for the moment his exclusion from domestic summer meetings has been put on hold.

UK Athletics intended not to invite Chambers to take part in outdoor events in Glasgow, London and Gateshead, although keeping him out of the UK Championships is presently not viable.

Chambers, like every other club runner in the country, is eligible to compete when the UK Championships take place in Manchester from July 11-13, although with them doubling as the Olympic trials his presence would be embarrassing.

The review of UK Athletics' anti-doping policy, chaired by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, has given Chambers a temporary reprieve and no decision will be made on his participation in the summer programme until its conclusion.

Fast Track, who organise the meetings on behalf of UKA, are supportive of the stance being taken by event organisers Euromeetings' which has banned the sprinter competing in all of its 51 events, but believe the democratic pathway must be followed.

From Fast Track's point of view we welcome and support the stance adopted by EuroMeetings,'' said director of communications Steve Chisholm.

But it would be inappropriate to decide on firm policy now until after Tanni's due process.'' Clearly both organisations are ensuring there are no repeats of the legal hitches when Chambers was cleared to compete at last weekend's World Indoor trials by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after initially being refused entry.

Chambers then added to UKA's embarrassment by winning over 60 metres in Sheffield and forcing their hand, although they were considering using a special circumstances'' clause, to prevent picking him for next month's World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

On legal advice they backed down, although the selection panel stated unanimously they did not want to choose the 29-yearold for the trip.

Despite this latest twist in the Chambers saga, it seems very unlikely both Fast Track and UKA will not follow the Euromeetings policy of keeping former drug cheats out of their meetings.

Chambers' absence from today's Grand Prix should have seen Craig Pickering, Simeon Williamson and Ryan Scott bidding to stake their claim for the second place in the side.

But European indoor silver medallist Pickering, the obvious first choice until Chambers' sensational victory last weekend, will be an absentee after tests revealed he is suffering from a virus and possibly food poisoning.

Now Williamson and Scott will front the short dash. Both, however, know they are not guaranteed selection, with UKA stressing all performances from would-be contenders will be considered until the February 24 entry deadline.

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