Hi °C | Lo °C Dwain Chambers was named in the Great Britain athletics team for London 2012, 12 years on from his last appearance at an Olympic Games.
Controversial sprinter Chambers will compete over 100m in the capital next month after being included in a 71-strong squad for the Games named by the British Olympic Association.
Chambers (34), finished fourth in the 100m in Sydney in 2000, but has not featured in the Olympics since following his two-year suspension for systematic drug use and the imposition of the BOA's lifetime ban.
However, the BOA ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this year, paving the way for him to compete at a home Olympics.
Chambers was not able to secure his place in London automatically as, despite winning the trials in Birmingham, he failed to run the ‘A' qualifying standard of 10.18 seconds.
However, that victory ahead of his domestic rivals as well as his past performances have proved enough to gain selection.
His place on the team had looked a certainty ever since he was given the option of not chasing the qualifying time at last week's European Championships in Helsinki.
Chambers was joined in the 100m by teenager Adam Gemili, the British number one this season, and James Dasaolu, who were second and third at the trials and have both run the ‘A' standard.
Chambers said: “It is a real honour to be selected as part of Team GB. For me representing my country in an Olympics is a privilege never to be taken for granted. To be given the opportunity to do so in my home town has been a dream that at times has seemed very distant and is now a reality.
“It is now my responsibility to prepare fully for the 100m, the relay, to support all my fellow athletes and all my other colleagues within Team GB. It is a very proud day and I thank the selectors for the confidence and faith they have placed in me.”
UK Athletics head coach Charles Van Commenee, who has set a target of eight medals, including one gold, said: “I am very proud to have nominated such a strong team. Our collective philosophy since Beijing has been one of raising the bar as we work towards London 2012. I believe this team is well prepared to go out there, be competitive and achieve on the greatest sporting stage in front of a home crowd.”
Chambers was joined in the squad by another athlete previously barred due to a drugs ban, with Carl Myerscough selected in the shot put.
Asked his thoughts on the selection of Chambers and Myerscough, Team GB chef de mission Andy Hunt said: “We always said that once the bylaw fell away, any athlete who is eligible to compete for Team GB would be welcomed into the team.”
