Dwain Chambers seeks injunction against doping ban

[July 09, 2008]  LONDON (AP) -- British sprinter Dwain Chambers is seeking a temporary court injunction against a lifetime Olympic doping ban, in hopes of competing in the Beijing Games.

Chambers went to the High Court on Wednesday to appeal against a British Olympic Association bylaw that bans athletes with doping violations from all future games.

A hearing in the case was set for next week.

If Chambers can prove that he could win his case at a full trial, the judge likely would issue an injunction that might clear the way for him to run in the 100 meters in Beijing. Even if the judge issues such an injunction, it's unclear whether the International Olympic Committee would allow him to compete.

And Chambers still has to qualify for the Olympics by finishing first or second at the British trials in Birmingham this weekend. He ran 10.05 seconds in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 30, the fastest time among British sprinters this year.

"It's going to be a hard task but I'm confident in what I'm capable of doing at my end, which is to cross the line first, and the rest will be left up to the decision that's made next Wednesday," Chambers said.

The BOA said it will argue that Chambers' challenge would not succeed at a full trial.

"We will continue at that hearing to vigorously defend the bylaw and to now bring the witnesses we wanted to bring under cross-examination that's necessary to defend that bylaw," BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said.

The 30-year-old Chambers served a two-year suspension for use of steroids.

[Associated Press; By ROB HARRIS]

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