Athletics: Chambers ends contract row as drug case looms

Dwain Chambers has paid a five-figure sum to his former management company, Nuff Respect, ahead of his appearance in front of a UK Athletics disciplinary panel, which is due to take place a week on Thursday.

The 25-year-old European 100m champion, who was suspended on 7 November after his positive test for the banned "designer" steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), has settled out of court following a legal dispute which began a year ago between Nuff Respect and the rival agency he left them for in January 2001, Stellar Athletics.

Nuff Respect, owned by the former Olympic 100m champion Linford Christie, confirmed yesterday that it had received "a substantial sum" of money from its former client following legal action involving the athlete's four-year shoe contract with adidas, which is due to run until next year. Legal proceedings for damages were due to have begun in London on Monday. No comment was available from Stellar.

Just under a fortnight ago it was revealed that Chambers had passed a preliminary trial with American Football coaches with a view to a possible career in America's National Football League. But other reports have indicated that he intends to fight to retain his status as an athlete should the independent hearing go against him.

Meanwhile, UK Athletics has named its team for Saturday's European Indoor Cup in Leipzig. Jason Gardener, winner of last Saturday's 60m at the Norwich Union World Trials and AAA Championships in the world's fastest time this year, 6.49sec, leads the charge against seven other nations, while there are also chances for athletes such as Mohammed Sillah-Freckleton and Ashley Swain to continue raising their profiles after their breakthrough weekend victories in, respectively, the 60m hurdles and the pole vault.