CHAMBERS IN SHOCK COMEBACK
DWAIN CHAMBERS could make a surprise return to the track at the British Indoor Championships this weekend. Chambers, 40, was banned for doping in 2004 and retired in August 2017, but he has put himself forward for the 60m sprint in Birmingham. To make the British team for the European Indoors in Glasgow next month, he needs to run the qualifying mark of 6.60sec. However, such an outcome would upset many in the sport.
DWAIN CHAMBERS is set to come out of retirement to race at the British Indoor Championships this weekend. Sportsmail can reveal the 40-year-old, who retired in August 2017, has put himself forward for the 60 metres in Birmingham and, based on his training form, he is considered a fair shout to qualify for the European Indoor team in March. It will mark a shock return by Chambers, who clocked 6.70sec for the sprint at a low-key meeting at Lee Valley in December — his first race in more than a year. Chambers became one of Britain’s most successful track stars before the disgrace of his doping ban from 2004 to 2006. On his return he was able to win the World Indoors 60m title in 2010, while fighting attempts from the British Olympic Association to impose a lifetime ban. The Londoner remains the 60m British record-holder with 6.42sec, set 10 years ago. In order to fill one of three spots on the British team for the European Indoors in Glasgow he will need to run the qualifying mark of 6.60sec. The top two in Birmingham will qualify automatically if they hit the time, with a third discretionary spot available. Chambers has not competed for Britain since the 2014 European Championships in Zurich and his return would cause a stir, with many figures in athletics firm in their opposition. However, Chambers has also drawn praise from some quarters over the past 15 years for admitting his offences and shining a light on doping. His fall from grace followed a positive test for steroids in 2003 and saw him stripped of his 2002 European 100m gold and 2003 World Championships relay silver medal, as well as the expunging of his 9.87sec British record, shared with Linford Christie. Chambers, however, is one of Britain’s most successful sprinters, having won World 100m bronze in 1999, European 60m gold in 2009 and European 100m silver in 1998. He has spent much of his retirement coaching juniors.