British athlete Dwain Chambers is facing a two-year worldwide ban and lifetime suspension from the Olympics today after being found guilty of failing a drugs test.
The European 100 metres champion tested positive for the designer steroid THG (tetrahydrogestrinone), a substance related to the prohibited steroid gestrinone, on August 1st 2003.
Chambers, 25, was found guilty by a UK Athletics disciplinary hearing, chaired by Charles Flint QC, on February 19th, and has 60 days to appeal.
The International Association of Athletics Federations' doping rules state that Chambers must be banned for two years, a punishment which is back-dated to November 7th, 2003.
Islington-born Chambers had been one of Britain's brightest hopes of a medal in the Olympic Games this autumn but he will now be absent in Athens as the guilty verdict also carries with it a life ban from the Olympics.
A statement from UK Athletics on the disciplinary hearing read: "Dwain Chambers co-operated with UK Athletics during the hearing process and accepted many issues in relation to his case."
It continued: "THG is not specifically listed on the IAAF's list of prohibited substances. The disciplinary committee had to decide whether THG was chemically or pharmacologically related to a substance on the IAAF's list of banned substances.
"Having heard this evidence, the disciplinary committee was satisfied that UK Athletics had proved that the relationship was made out and that THG was chemically and pharmacologically related to gestrinone.
"Dwain Chambers has 60 days to file any appeal of this decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport should he wish to challenge it."
According to his solicitor Graham Shear, Chambers is still considering that option.
"Dwain continues to assert that he has never knowingly taken a performance-enhancing substance," said Shear.
"The strict liability nature of the IAAF rules has meant that this was not a factor the tribunal were allowed to take into account in deciding whether or not a doping offence had been committed.
"But the tribunal noted that no evidence was produced, nor indeed was it even suggested by UK Athletics, that Dwain was knowingly or intentionally involved with THG.
"Dwain has been given the minimum ban available in the circumstances and he continues to assert his innocence.
"The decision of the tribunal is being studied in detail for the purpose of considering a possible appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport."