The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: Dwain Chambers wins 100m in Greece

British runner Dwain Chambers competes in the 100-metres race at the Papaflessia track and field meeting in Kalamata, south Greece, yesterday. Chambers returned to 100m competition yesterday, winning in 10.26 seconds. - AP

KALAMATA, Greece (AP)

British sprinter Dwain Chambers won his first 100-metre race since August 2006 yesterday, beating Mardy Scales of the United States with a time of 10.26 seconds in the annual Papaflessia meet.

Chambers recently completed a two-year ban by the International Association of Athletics Federations for testing positive for the steroid THG. While his time yesterday was good enough to qualify for Britain's trials for the Beijing Games, Chambers is barred for life by the British Olympic Association (BOA).

Remained hopeful

He is appealing that ban to London's High Court, and his lawyer said after the race that case could be heard by the end of next week.

"We have already issued proceedings and have been in touch with the BOA's solicitors telling them we intend appealing on Dwain's behalf," Nick Collins said. "We had to wait for Dwain to clock a qualifying time to enable him to compete in the trials and he has done that tonight.

"Now he's made it, we are finalising the paperwork and hopefully the case may even be heard in the High Court before the end of next week."

And Chambers remained hopeful of going to China.

"Beijing is still there," he said after the race, when asked by local media if he was upset he might miss the games. "I'll be there, don't worry."

BETTER START

Scales had a better start in the final, but Chambers caught up and passed him just before the finish line.

"I was pleased just to be here, first and foremost, and get back into the swing of competition," he said. "It was good to be performing today. I'm very happy."

The BOA has said it is confident its Olympic doping rule would stand up in court. Although there have been 26 successful appeals against Britain's lifetime Olympic ban in the last 16 years, the legality of the rule has not been challenged in the courts.

Chambers returned to the track in January and won a silver medal in the 60 meters at the World Indoor Championships in March.