LONDON (AP):

ALLOWING DWAIN Chambers to compete at the Beijing Olympics could financially damage the London 2012 Games, according to the British association trying to convince a judge to keep the doping-tainted sprinter out of China.

London's High Court will rule today whether Chambers can get a temporary injunction against the British Olympic Association (BOA), which has a by-law banning doping violators for life from the games.

Before Judge Colin Mackay retired yesterday to consider his delayed verdict, the BOA warned of long-term harm to its reputation if Britain's fastest man competes in the 100-metre race in Beijing.

"Repetitional damage ... would impair the BOA's ability to deliver services to athletes and national member governing bodies, and to fulfil the functions attributed to it by the International Olympic Committee," BOA chairman Colin Moynihan said in written statement to the court.

"Donors or sponsors would be disinclined to support the London Olympic Games if the host nation's Olympic team has a tarnished reputation," Moynihan said.

Exaggerated position

Chambers' lawyer, Jonathan Crystal, said it was "an exaggerated position" and argued that his client's "redemption and rehabilitation" after testing positive for the steroid THG in August 2003 should be recognised, as well as the need to support his family.

"No one suggests Mr Chambers is the prodigal son, but Mr Chambers was plainly lost and has now been found," Crystal said.

This is Chambers' last opportunity to be an Olympic medallist, he added, and he could retire if he is not successful today.

But Mackay questioned whether he has any chance of being on the Beijing podium since nine men have run the 100 faster than him this year.

Chambers' case centres on his trade being restrained by the BOA.

"He represents our best chance of a podium finish in the 100m in Beijing," Crystal said. "There would be no restriction to his selection for any other nation, save possibly Denmark and China."

No benefits

But David Pannick, representing the BOA, said there are no direct financial benefits from being an Olympian.

"He cannot show that sportsmen and women are significantly restrained in their trade by the by-law which only concerns eligibility for an amateur event, which takes place once every four years and for which there is no prize money," Pannick said.

Mackay noted that in this "society obsessed with celebrity", even non-medallists like the Jamaican bobsled team, which competed at the 1988 Winter Olympics, have gained financially, even inspiring the film Cool Runnings.

Chambers spoke just once in the hearing, saying that Tyrone Edgar finished fourth in the British trials he won on Saturday in 10 seconds.

Edgar and third-place Craig Pickering are vying for the last two berths in the sprint squad. Only runner-up Simeon Williamson has so far been named ahead of Sunday's final deadline to submit the team.