Chambers storms to gold in Turin
Chambers keen to move on after Euro win
Dwain Chambers was crowned 60m European Indoors champion after crushing the 60m field in a time of 6.46 seconds.
The 30-year-old could not match his semi-final record-breaking efforts and told the BBC: "I wanted to run quicker but I had to concentrate on winning."
After a false start, Simeon Williamson (6.57s) was edged out of the medals into fourth by Italian pair Fabio Cerutti and Emanuele Di Gregorio.
Craig Pickering, second two years ago, had to settle for fifth with 6.61s.
Chambers' autobiography is published on Monday and book extracts criticising Lord Sebastian Coe and questioning Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu's drug testing conduct have all reignited the debate over his continued participation in the sport, helping to overshadow the build-up to this Italian event.
But Chambers, banned in 2003 for a positive drug test, has expressed his determination for closure over his past and has looked determined to let his feet do the talking.
606: DEBATE
Dwain Chambers is looking magnificent. What could he have achieved without drugs?
here comes the three-peat
He added: "Despite what's been going on I've had to keep my head and keep my form. It's been a great privilege to come here.
"It's great to put on a British vest and have some fun. I've been in this situation before where I concentrated on time and I've lost it.
"This is a very important championship for me. I've done what I set out to do so that is what I am pleased about."
During the winter Chambers had already set a season-best mark of 6.51s, equalling the time of American Michael Rodgers, and he was a huge favourite for Sunday's final.
He smashed the British and European record in Saturday's semi-final with a phenomenal time of 6.42s - breaking Jason Gardener's 10-year-old British record by 0.04s and just 0.03s slower than Maurice Greene's world record.
The 23-year-old Williamson, impressive at February's Grand Prix in Birmingham, was the second quickest in the semis with an encouraging strong finish and he will be disappointed not to have clinched a medal.
The gold medal was never in any doubt for Chambers despite having two in-form Italians, cheered on by the local crowd, breathing down his neck, with one tenth of a second separating the Briton and second-placed Cerutti.
Referring to his two-year ban for testing positive for the steroid THG six years ago, Chambers said: "I just hope people let the past be the past now.
Van Commenee slams 'naive' Okoro
"It's gone on for far too long now. It's just great to be here with the team and celebrate in my national colours again. I haven't been able to do that for a while.
"It's good to get back on the medal rostrum again and start re-writing my name in the history books for the right reasons."
Speaking before Turin UKA chief Charles van Commenee said that Chambers' drug ban should be left in the past and that he should be welcomed in the team with open arms.
With much of the media attention continuing to focus on Chambers' past, Van Commenee told BBC 5 Live's Sportsweek ahead of the 60m final: "There is a long history and a big story about him - it's understandable people bring it up.
"But I focus on the performance and I hope one day it will be over. The man is highly motivated - he can only come out a few times a year. When you lock someone up and you open the door he's going to be more eager to run than anytime else.
"He must be drug free at the moment - he has tested almost every day so we know he's clean. If he's running faster than ever it's a positive story for how good someone can be without taking substances."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment