Athletics: Timing important for Chambers
Dwain Chambers' chances of winning a medal at the Beijing Olympics would be massively improved if he were to launch immediate legal proceedings against his lifetime ban from the Games.
Chambers' solicitor confirmed the 30-year-old sprinter would challenge the British Olympic Association bylaw preventing drug cheats representing Great Britain in Olympic competition if he attains the qualifying standard at July's national trials in Birmingham.
"We can confirm that Dwain Chambers will be taking proceedings to secure his eligibility/participation in the Olympic and National trials in Birmingham from July 11-13," lawyer Nick Collins said.
But while a successful appeal in two months' time would guarantee an individual 100 metres spot on the team, it would almost certainly be too late for him to be selected to race the 4x100m relay.
That would rob the world indoor 60m runner-up of by far his best opportunity to return from Beijing with a medal, with an individual gong more unlikely such is the strength of competition he would face.
Should Chambers challenge BOA bylaw 25 and win his fight in the High Court, UK Athletics would be forced to nominate him for a place on their relay squad under International Association of Athletics Federations rules.
An immediate challenge would give him the opportunity to train with his fellow relay squad members, who are involved in regular sessions at Loughborough University and have a few pre-Olympic races lined up.
But a two-month delay would give UKA the right not to invite him to train, which would almost certainly see him left out of the final four-man team.
With the men's sprint relay team both defending Olympic champions and bronze medallists at last summer's World Championships, the event represents one of their best opportunities for success on the track.
The BOA are staunchly opposed to Chambers' reinstatement, with chairman Lord Moynihan saying: "There will be no room for cheats in the British team as long as I am involved with the BOA."
Moynihan's determination is admired by anti-doping supporters but with the BOA being the only national Olympic committee in the world now enforcing lifetime bans, it seems very susceptible to a challenge in the High Court.
That appears to be the path Chambers' legal team will follow if, as expected, he is successful in the trial race.
His lawyer is advising his client not to get too far ahead of himself.
"It is a case of taking things one step at a time," Collins said.
"First, he has to get to the trials. Then he has to win. Then we will see."