Chambers expects to run in Olympics after making mark

Sprinter to challenge BOA's lifetime ban in High Court

Dwain Chambers believes his ambition of competing at the Beijing Olympic Games will be realised after he has challenged a British Olympic Association lifetime suspension in the High Court. Nick Collins, Chambers' solicitor, said yesterday: "The legal papers are presently with his barrister and we are anticipating serving them next week."

After taking a vital step towards achieving that ambition by twice clocking the Games 100m "A" qualifying time here yesterday, the 30-year-old Londoner again said his lawyers would take the necessary court action to lift the ban, thus enabling him to gain clearance and compete in Beijing.

Chambers, who has committed an anti-doping violation, is prevented by a BOA bylaw from representing Team GB at any Games. He said: "Now I've got the qualifier, I've just got to continue with my role, which is competing, and let the lawyers do their part."

Twice yesterday, in perfect conditions, Chambers beat the Beijing qualifying time of 10.21sec with performances of 10.14sec in his heat and then a dazzling 10.06sec in the final. After that he spoke about how he has rebuilt his career.

He said: "I've taken up this challenge and I would only do it because of my strong feelings about how well I can run in the Olympic Games. I have matured a lot and I'd like to say that I've made amends for my mistakes a long time ago, and now I'm proving that I can do it clean."

After hearing the German crowd applaud his performances, Chambers said: "I will always remain a clean athlete from here onwards. I've come of age and I believe in what I say and I'm able to do the walking as well. That comes with age, experience and confidence."

Chambers is now joint top of the British rankings, with Tyrone Edgar, and believes he has more to come. The two sprinters' form should make for an interesting race at next month's Olympic trials in Birmingham.

"I was more concerned in the heat with just getting the qualifier," said Chambers, after blowing away the opposition with a strong start. "That was playing on my mind a bit. Once I had achieved what I did, it just made the opportunity of coming out in the final more comfortable."

That saw him run his fastest 100m time since returning from his two-year ban for using the designer steroid THG in 2006. "It's only a matter of time before I will be able to show what I can do when I get into the Olympic final," said Chambers, who withdrew from the 200m here. Tim Abeyie won the "B" race in 20.71sec.

Kelly Sotherton looked impressive in her 100m hurdles heat, clocking a season's best 13.26sec, but in the final had to settle for third. Russia's Tatyana Dektyareva won by 0.16sec ahead of British No 1 Sarah Claxton in 13.00sec. Sotherton clocked 13.54sec. The Olympic heptathlon bronze medallist was also fourth over 200m, in 23.92sec, as Ghana's Vida Anim won in 23.18sec ahead of Donna Fraser (23.46sec) and Kadi-Ann Thomas (23.62sec).