And the Dwain Chambers train takes another twist

[Shaggy]

If Chambers plays he will get absolutely battered. Pace alone won't be of much use to him after only a WEEK to learn the rules!!

[dww]

If Chambers plays he will get absolutely battered. Pace alone won't be of much use to him after only a WEEK to learn the rules!!

Admit it though like me if it is on TV somewhere you'll watch because there is every chance it will be funny as ****. I think if your squad is as low on players and moral as theirs is it has to be a gamble worth taking if you don't have young players ready to step up. Risking their development would be a huge mistake getting some money for an experiment with Chambers seems like a much more appealing gamble to me.

[Shaggy]

I will certainly be looking out for it.

[Rich]

Chambers is going to have to be VERY careful. League has way more nutters in it than Union, and they'll be after him - after all, who wants some bloke coming in and making them look silly!??

He'll stay out wide, so wont have to learn a huge amount of the rules (it ain't half as complicated as Union) but he'll need to learn to tackle and what to do when he's tackled.

Personally, I think he'll **** it when an 18st bloke is running flat out at him.

[captainfog]

Ha Ha Ha this is proof that Rugby is ****. No chance this could happen in football. I mean, FFS, when interviewed he didn't even know how many players made up a team. LOL

[Shaggy]

Castleford have decided against offering sprinter Dwain Chambers a contract after the end of his trial.

Chambers tried his hand at rugby league after being frozen out of athletics following a two-year drugs ban.

But the 30-year-old, who had never played the sport before, struggled to cope with the stamina required.

"He would need a significant amount of additional time to prove whether he would be capable of making the grade," read a Castleford statement.

"Time is something we don't have, but we wish him the best for the future."

The club said they had concluded the trial with "some reluctance".

Chambers' future is unclear, but Castleford's decision may force him to fight the British Olympic Association's ban on him competing in Beijing later this year.

A BOA bylaw prevents athletes found guilty of serious drugs offences from ever appearing at the Olympics, even after they have served their bans.

But Chambers may be able to challenge the BOA's by-law 25 in court in an effort to make the Great Britain team.

Chambers started a trial with the Tigers at the end of March, despite having no previous experience of rugby league.

Both player and club insisted the move was more than just a publicity stunt, but he made only one appearance during his month-long stay at The Jungle.

He came off the bench to play on the wing and at full-back in a friendly against York City Knights on 27 April but found the going tough and was forced off with a shoulder injury.

Castleford chief executive Richard Wright added: "Dwain has worked very hard during training and the trial game and he showed the commitment and courage to suggest that with time he could become a successful rugby league player.

"However time is not available to us and we have to focus upon more immediate matters and our attention has to be on this year's Super League competition.

"Many people watched Dwain in the trial game and he has certainly won over some of the doubters, and proved that the trial was more than simply a publicity stunt.

"During his trial period Dwain has been a joy to have around. His work ethic and professionalism have been exemplary, but unfortunately he's **** at rugby."

Chambers, who came back from his drugs ban to win a silver medal in the 60m at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year, maintained that he was serious about a career in the sport.

His manager Nick Collins said: "Whilst disappointed, Dwain is comfortable with and understands the decision. He has had a great time and made some good friends during his brief period with the club.

"He leaves the club in a positive mood, and with a smile on his face."

Chambers twice tried and failed to break through into American Football.

[Rich]

I reckon another team might take a chance on him.

[PTP]

"During his trial period Dwain has been a joy to have around. His work ethic and professionalism have been exemplary, but unfortunately he's **** at rugby."

****ing hell shaggy that caught me by suprise

[Scratch]

Hmmn, never thought about the stamina aspect of it...i guess when the bloke is used to running flat out for 10 seconds (20 on occassion) putting in a full 80 minutes of hard action isn't something that he'd be able to do without some training method changes.

And how come we can have a shotput athlete banned for drug taking competing at the olympics (i think i read that somewhere) but not a Dwayne? Is it cos he is black??

[PTP]

Hmmn, never thought about the stamina aspect of it...i guess when the bloke is used to running flat out for 10 seconds (20 on occassion) putting in a full 80 minutes of hard action isn't something that he'd be able to do without some training method changes.

And how come we can have a shotput athlete banned for drug taking competing at the olympics (i think i read that somewhere) but not a Dwayne? Is it cos he is black??

i haven't heard about the shot put athelete but i know the olmpics take a tough stance on banned atheltes,

with regards the GB team backing him - i pretty sure the other sprint athletes such as mark lewis francis darren campbell etc etc etc are dead against having him back. From memory i think they weren't pissed off with him as a person for doing what he did but apparently he could have blown the lid on it all, who is involved and basically played a major part in stopping it from happening but he chose not too

[Red Chilli]

I reckon another team might take a chance on him.

[Pablo]

Watch the video of his debut for Castleford on the BBC website, its hilarious, Pacman would have done a better job:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/castleford/7385928.stm

[Rich]

Dewsbury Rams....

[Reece]

Chambers challenges Olympic ban
Dwain Chambers
Chambers was banned after testing positive for steroids in 2003

Dwain Chambers has filed papers against the British Olympic Association (BOA) in London in an attempt to be allowed to run in the Olympics.

Chambers is challenging the BOA's bylaw which bans athletes who have failed drug tests from competing in the Games.

Last week Chambers easily ran the 100m qualifying time for Beijing.

But Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Steve Redgrave are among more than 100 athletes who have signed a petition supporting the BOA's stance.

Chambers' Leeds-based solicitor Nick Collins is hoping the BOA will agree to the case being heard next week, before the British Olympic trials in Birmingham the following weekend.

Chambers, who served a two-year ban after testing positive for the steroid THG in 2003, is favourite to win the trials after running the fastest 100m by a British athlete this year when he recorded 10.05 seconds in Sofia on Monday.

But in order for him to make it to Beijing his barrister Jonathan Crystal will need to convince the court that the BOA regulation is unlawful.

The BOA's bylaw imposes life bans on any athlete who fails a drug test unless there are mitigating circumstances.

A statement from Chambers' legal team said: "The basis of Mr Chambers claim is that the bylaw is an unreasonable restraint of trade in that it goes further than is reasonably necessary for protecting the interests of BOA and the public. "And further, that the bylaw is inherently unfair and unreasonable given the surrounding circumstances.

"Mr Chambers will seek, from the court, a declaration that the bylaw is unenforceable; a declaration that he is eligible for inclusion in Team GB for Beijing 2008; and an order that, subject to his achieving first or second place at the UK trials, he be included in Team GB."


606: DEBATE
Is Chambers right to continue with his High Court appeal?

There have been successful appeals against the lifetime ban - the last being 400m world champion Christine Ohuruogu's - but nobody has challenged the actual legality of the rule in the courts.

The BOA said on Thursday: "We can confirm that the British Olympic Association has received service of proceedings from lawyers acting on behalf of Dwain Chambers.

"In the interests of the British Olympic Movement and the athletes who aspire to line up at an Olympic Games and our youngsters looking for Olympic glory in London, the BOA confirms that it will vigorously and unequivocally defend its lifetime ban on drug cheats who have brought themselves and their sports into disrepute."

Anticipating Chambers' actions, the British Athletes' Commission (BAC) asked athletes to sign a petition opposing the bylaw's removal.

Among the hundred-plus signatories was five-time Olympic rowing gold medallist Redgrave, who said: "Every athlete that competes for Britain knows the rules.

"If an athlete takes the risk of cheating they have to accept the penalties that go with this."

BAC boss Peter Gardner told BBC Sport on Sunday: "The petition carries weight because it has support from many athletes."

Chambers has refused to be swayed by the petition and Collins insists the views of the public should be heard.

"The petition speaks volumes for the names that are not on it as much as for the names that are on it," said the solicitor.

The BOA is committed to naming its team for Beijing before 20 July, so any appeal has less than two weeks to succeed.

[tufty]

imo the cheat should accept his punishment and get on with his life.....away from Athlectics