Over to the judge: After the trials comes the biggest trial of all for Chambers

Chambers will not be called upon to speak but, as he put it himself, he has let his feet do his talking. You can doubt his ethical qualification to be part of Team GB but not his athletic credentials. He is the best of British sprinters.

He set the fastest legal time by a British runner for almost nine years, the fastest ever run on a track where Olympic Trials have been held since the days when Linford Christie was just getting into his stride.

Dwain Chambers celebrates as he crosses the line to win the 100m at the Olympic Trials in Birmingham

It was achieved without coaching, without any financial or medical support by UK Athletics, without any serious competitive opportunities in his preparations and while under enormous personal stress because of the legal proceedings.

It was, as even his most vociferous critics must accept, a truely remarkable run.

On paper, it may not seem to challenge the likes of Usain Bolt and Tyson Gay for their places on the Olympic podium but their record breaking times this year have been run in temperatures of 30C plus. Ten dead on a day when the crowd huddled in anoracks demands respect.

A few booed. Many more cheered. The other sprinters wrapped arms round his massive shoulders and shook his hand. Among those was Craig Pickering, a signatory to the letter condemning his challenge to the British Olympic Association's bylaw banning from Olympic selection those caught doping.

Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics, stepped forward to present him his medal, which may suggest not all in that organisation are hard-line against his selection. One voice shouted 'You are a cheat, Chambers' only to be drowned by applause.

'I'll sleep well tonight,' said Chambers, who admitted before the Trials that the worry was causing him insomnia. 'I have done my part and hopefully it will be a future in Beijing.'

Ed Moses, a double Olympic champion and much-respected voice among athletes internationally, reiterated his opinion yesterday that it is unfair for the British to be singled out for an Olympic life ban. 'It's almost like a death sentence. We have to deal with this problem where a national ruling body has rules that are more restriction than the IOC,' he said.

Performance director Dave Collins and a handful of colleagues will announce their choices today. They cannot name Chambers because of the BOA ban but they should name Simeon Williamson and Craig Pickering, who were second and third.

Williamson, 22, who admits to having taken advice from Chambers on his running, is a sprinter as exciting as Chambers was at the same age.

His time of 10.03 seconds, an improvement of 0.07 seconds on his last year's career best, has been surpassed only by three Britons, Chambers, Christie and Jason Gardener.

Pickering, 21, edged out US-based Tyrone Edgar, winner for Britain last month at the European Cup, to establish a 2-0 record over him this summer, so it should be Edgar who will sweat on Justice Mackay's decision.

'I don't think I'll sleep much Tuesday night. If I don't go in the 100 I would not feel happy. I would be upset. Rules are rules,' said Edgar.  
 

Collins & co will have far more trouble with relay selection. Two stalwarts, Marlon Devonish and Christian Malcolm, were not in the mix. Devonish, running with a sore throat, finished seventh and Malcolm did not qualify for the final.

Were this the United States, they would be out, victims of a sudden-death selection system. Britain, with fewer riches, is more pragmatic. Relay coach Michael Khemel will be loathe to dump the experienced Devonish but if Chambers becomes available, his speed could lift Britain to the podium.

All depends now on Justice Mackay.