The door remains open for Dwain Chambers to return to competition this year even though UK Athletics have banned him from competing in next month's World Indoor Championships trials.
UKA stated that because he has not undergone a drugs test since November 2006, he is ineligible for selection for the Norwich Union GB side. However, he could seemingly return to competition in the outdoor season.
Chambers announced his intention to pursue a place in the team for Valencia, where the championships will be held from March 7-9, after his American football career was ended by the disbandment of NFL Europa.
The drug cheat hoped to gain the qualifier for the trials in Sheffield on February 9 and 10 at this weekend's Southern Championships, but failed to submit his entry in time. It is understood the 29-year-old Londoner was therefore planning to chase the qualifier at the Birmingham Games on February 3.
But UKA have now effectively blunted his ambitions.
'Those athletes who compete in the trials with a realistic proposition of making the World Indoors are likely to have been part of the testing programme,' said UKA chief executive Niels de Vos.
'It is only fair that, should Dwain want to return, he too should undergo the same rigorous process for a period of time prior to competing against these athletes. The IAAF indicates a 12-month period of testing before a retired athlete is allowed to return.
'A 12-month period of random, out-of-competition testing is the absolute minimum I would find acceptable before giving any consideration to facilitating Dwain Chambers' return to competitive international athletics.'
UKA now plans to review its policy regarding the return of athletes who in the past have committed anti-doping violations, aimed at debarring them from representing their country.
But they are well aware legally it cannot be made retrospective and Chambers, who received a two years suspension for using the designer steroid THG, will be unaffected should the new legislation take effect.
Indeed there are other factors in his favour - it was UKA who took him off UK Sport's drug testing register and not himself.
The disgraced sprinter on his return from his ban in 2006 also represented Great Britain at the European Championships, gaining a place in the 100 metres final and winning a 4x100m relay gold medal.
However the athlete has remained on that of the IAAF, although not tested by its out-of-competition programme since the end of 2005.
That occurred just prior to him returning from suspension, and he has since continued to provide his whereabouts to the world governing body.
It is also known that the athlete, who was asked to repay around USD$200,000 prize money earned when cheating, has already contributed to the sum.
Chambers' chances of competing at the World Indoor Championships may have been hit, but it seems there is nothing to prevent him making a return outdoors.
However he is ineligible to compete under British Olympic Association rules at this summer's Games in Beijing, which bans all drug cheats from the side.
