Fight Against Doping -- Chambers Pondering Return, Qatar Nabs Drugs

Dwain Chambers may make a return to the U.K.’s athletics team for the 2009 world championships. (Getty Images)Chambers Mulling Competition Return

Drug cheat Dwain Chambers is reportedly contemplating a return to athletics.

In a report published in the U.K.’s Press Association, Chambers “has every intention of competing at this summer's World Championships in Berlin" but has not decided if he wants to run in the 4x100-meter relay.

Chambers returned to racing in the summer in a bid to make the British Olympic team but was ruled ineligible to compete. The Press Association reports that he thinks he can still win a medal at the world championships.

UK Athletics (UKA) said Chambers is now able to return to the team.

"We would expect any athlete who pulls on a Great Britain & Northern Ireland vest to show a full commitment to our anti-doping program," a UKA spokesman told the Press Association” which is why, when Dwain Chambers returned to athletics for the third time last year and was not part of the UK Sport testing register, UK Athletics objected to his inclusion in the GB & NI squad.

"UKA operates within the legal frameworks of both the IAAF and WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), therefore there is no question over the eligibility for selection of Dwain Chambers - who has now spent more than 12 months on the out-of-competition register - for the GB & NI team for the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin."

Qatar Catches Drug Smuggler

Qatari officials say they intercepted a shipment of doping supplies destined for distribution in the country.

The interior ministry’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was responsible for the intercept which happened on Tuesday.

According to local media, the drugs “came from an Asian country.”

The suspect’s home was raided where the authorities found large stashes of drugs and doping supplies. He was taken into custody for questioning where he admitted possessing the illegal substances, and is awaiting trial.

…Briefs

…The Czech Senate criminalized doping on Thursday. The new law was part of an overhaul of the Czech Republic’s penal code.

…United States Anti Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart will speak at Washington & Lee University’s Institute for Honor conference. This year’s theme is "Sports in America: Playing Fair." Tygart will speak on Jan. 23 on a panel discussion called: “Souped Up: Performance Enhancement Issues Among Super Athletes.”

Media Watch

Science Daily has a profile of a new drug test designed to catch performance-enhancing drugs of the future.

Written by Ed Hula III.