Chambers loses bid appeal

British sprinter Dwain Chambers lost his bid to compete in the Beijing Olympics after failing to get a temporary High Court injunction against his lifetime Olympic ban.

Chambers, 30, had gone to court hoping to overturn the British Olympic Association (BOA) bylaw which precluded him from competing in China next month.

He served a two-year suspension after testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003, but argued that the BOA's additional punishment was an unfair restraint of trade.

BOA chairman Lord Moynihan insisted the verdict was a vindication of the bylaw. "I regret that Dwain Chambers, an athlete of outstanding talent, should by his own action put himself out of the running to shine in the Olympics," he said outside the High Court.

"But the BOA has rules, which are recognised and understood by all Olympic athletes. This bylaw has been in place for 16 years at the request and for the benefit of our athletes. We will continue to send a powerful, important message that no-one found guilty of serious drug-cheating offences should be allowed to shine in the team GB vest at the Olympic Games."

Justice Mackay, who issued his ruling 24 hours after listening to the conflicting arguments in court, said Chambers' right to work was not a good enough reason to dismiss the ban.

The High Court judge added a decision in the athlete's favour would have upset "the harmony and management of the British team".