THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Sprinter Dwain Chambers has an unlikely ally in his return to track and field after serving a two-year doping ban — Victor Conte.
"It’s disgusting what has happened to Dwain," Conte said in The Times of London on Friday.
Conte founded the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, the lab at the centre of the steroids scandal in professional sports. Chambers tested positive in 2003 for the steroid THG, which was provided by Conte.
Chambers and Conte speak regularly, including last Sunday when the British sprinter won the 60-metres at the British indoor trials. The victory earned Chambers a spot on the team for the world indoor championships in Valencia, Spain, from March 7-9.
But Chambers’ re-emergence on the track — after an unsuccessful foray into American football — has not been welcomed by governing body UK Athletics. Meet organizers are also refusing to invite Chambers to race.
"A lot of people who are coming out and kicking Dwain, and speaking about zero tolerance, are liars," Conte said, without elaborating.
Conte served four months in prison for operating a steroids distribution ring. Since being released in March 2006 he has met with Dick Pound, when he was president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, and given information to the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
Conte said UK Athletics was making Chambers a pariah instead of using him to educate others on the perils of drugs.
"He’s an eyewitness; he was at the scene," Conte said. "He could be a major positive in the fight against doping, but instead there’s all this hate, hate, hate. What sort of example is that?"