British sprinter Dwain Chambers will run in the British Olympic trials this weekend without knowing whether he will be eligible to compete at the Beijing Games.
Chambers will find out by tomorrow whether he has qualified for the British team in the 100m, four days before London’s High Court considers his application for a temporary injunction against a lifetime Olympic doping ban.
Judge Colin Mackay is expected to deliver a verdict after next Wednesday’s hearing in time for the July 20 deadline for team selection for the Aug. 8 to Aug. 24 Beijing Olympics.
Chambers has to finish first or second in the 100m tomorrow at the British trials in Birmingham after advancing from today’s heats.
“Friday and Saturday — that’s when the job really matters,” Chambers said on Wednesday outside the court. “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.”
A brief hearing on Wednesday determined that, given the time restraints, the full appeal against the British Olympic Association (BOA) bylaw that bans athletes with doping violations from all future games cannot be heard until after the Olympics.
For the judge to issue an injunction, Chambers will have to show he could win a case of “unreasonable restraint of trade” at a full trial.
“We’re delighted,” said Chambers’ lawyer, Nick Collins. “We will respect and abide by the court’s decision.”
The BOA said it will argue that Chambers’ challenge would not succeed at a full trial.
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