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'It's good to be back on track'
07/03/2008 15:39 - (SA)
Valencia - British sprinter Dwain Chambers got his bid for gold in the world indoor championships off to a promising start when he cruised into the semi-finals after winning his heat in a time of 6:69 seconds.
The 29-year-old, who is trying to resurrect his athletics
career following a two-year doping ban imposed in 2003, was
given a positive reception from the crowd in Valencia.
When his name was announced over the public address system
there was a ripple of applause with none of the threatened
booing or jeering and the race went off without a hitch.
Chambers said he was delighted with the reception.
"I'm very happy with it," he told reporters. "I didn't want any more stress. People have been greeting me and everyone is happy to see me back on the track. I just want to go out there and win a medal for my country.
"It's good to be back on the track and running fast."
Chambers, who received the two-year ban after testing
positive for the designer steroid THG, was included in the
British team for the world indoors after winning the trials
although UK Athletics made it clear they had not wanted to pick
him.
He was given a life ban by the British Olympic Association
(BOA) and so will not be allowed to compete in this year's Games in Beijing.
Chambers was a member of the British team that won the
4x100m relay title at the 2006 European championships and
then attempted unsuccessfully to forge a career in American
football, returning this year to renew his athletics career.
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