Trials win not enough to get Chambers to Games

Dwain Chambers ran his fastest time of the year to win the 100 metres final at the British Olympic trials Saturday but that still wasn't enough to get him a spot on the team. The 34-year-old, banned in 2003 after failing a drugs test, recently saw his path to selection for a Games in his native London cleared after the British Olympic Association's lifetime Olympic ban on drugs cheats was overturned. But Chambers's time of 10.25 seconds wasn't good enough to reach the 'A' qualifying standard of 10.18 secs. British selectors were looking to their sprinters to both achieve the standard and finish in the top two at the trials -- something achieved only by 18-year-old rising star Adam Gemili, the runner-up to Chambers on Saturday, who become the second fastest man in Europe this year when he clocked 10.08 secs in Germany earlier this month. A frustrated Chambers, who was heard to swear after winning the final, said he would now try to achieve the 'A' standard at the European Championships in Helsinki next week. "First of all, I want to apologise for swearing at the end of the race," Chambers told the BBC. "I got a little carried away. "I had pressure with all the youngsters like Adam coming through, but I relied on my experience and it got my through. "I still need to get the qualifying time and I have a chance to get it at the Europeans in Helsinki next week, so that is the next step. "The pressure of trials is the hardest part and I am glad it's over. Now I can concentrate on getting the time," Chambers said. Meanwhile Gemili, who has always insisted his main priority is next month's World Junior Championships in Barcelona, said he would compete in London having only concentrated solely on athletics since January following spells as a footballer with several clubs including European champions Chelsea. Asked if he would take up his Olympic place Gemili, who still plans to run in Spain from July 10-15 in both the 100m and 200m, replied: "Of course. Everyone wants to go. I ran the time and I'm in the team. I'm really pleased."