So, drug cheats DO win as athletics bosses are too scared to drop Chambers

Double Olympic champions Dame Kelly Holmes and Lord Coe both spoke out against the self-confessed drugs cheat, while Chambers' young sprint rival Craig Pickering insisted the former European 100metre champion would not be welcome in the British team for Valencia. 'I don't think it puts us in a good light as a country allowing a cheat, who has admitted he is a cheat, to represent us,' said Dame Kelly.

UK Athletics selectors also revealed that they were unanimous in not wishing to select Chambers but said they were left with little choice because he had achieved the qualifying time and won their indoor trials at Sheffield on Sunday.

They also knew that any decision to sideline him could result in a potentially ruinous legal battle.

And last night Pickering broke rank with those athletes who have been supporting the 29-year-old.

The European Indoor 60m silver medallist, who will be involved in a race-off against Simeon Williamson to see who takes second spot in the team behind Chambers, said: 'It looks like Simeon or me will be left at home. I do not really welcome him back but it is out of my control, so I just get on with it.'

Dame Kelly, who won gold at 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, added: 'Each case is different, but I don't believe he should be running. This was an athlete who went to America, knowingly took a drug that was undetectable at the time, got caught, admitted he'd taken drugs and then went on to say that you can't win anything without taking drugs. And then goes and competes again.'

Chambers, who tested positive for the designer anabolic steroid THG in 2003, is banned for life from running for Great Britain at the Olympics, but it is likely he may appeal against that now.

The UKA's selection committee issued a statement last night which showed how much they were against picking him. It read: 'The committee was unanimous in its desire not to select Dwain. Taking him to the World Indoors deprives young, upwardly mobile, committed athletes of this key development opportunity. Our world class performance programme is focused on achievement at Olympic and world level. On this basis, it is extremely frustrating to leave young athletes at home; eligible for Beijing, in possession of the qualifying standard and committed to ongoing participation in a drug-free sport.

'In contrast we have to take an individual whose sudden return, especially when considered against his previous actions and comments, suggests that he may be using the whole process for his own ends.'

The team also includes shot putter Carl Myerscough, who was banned for two years in 1999 for a steroid offence. He has represented Great Britain regularly since and his selection has not been questioned because he has been on UK Sport's drug-testing programme for the past 12 months, unlike Chambers, who took time out of athletics after his ban ended in 2006 to pursue a career in American football.

In another extraordinary twist, it was revealed that Chambers has not been invited to the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham on Saturday.

Jon Ridgeon, managing director of Fast Track, who organised the event, said: 'Dwain Chambers will not be invited to compete at the Norwich Union Grand Prix. Under IAAF rules, the event promoters have the right to invite whoever they wish and both UK Athletics and Fast Track do not want the world's No 1 indoor meet to be overshadowed by this issue. This is not a personal matter but a view taken as part of our responsibility towards protecting the image of the sport.'

Pickering had been the pre-race favourite on Sunday but finished only fifth in the final on a day which was all about the presence of Chambers.

'I was disappointed with my run,' he said. 'If Dwain had not been there it might have been different.'

Chambers' solicitor Nick Collins said: 'It honours the tradition of the English legal system that when an offender has paid his penalty he starts again with a clean sheet. Dwain now has his clean sheet and a clean start. Perhaps now people will be generous enough to give him that fresh start. We are sure that sports lovers will applaud this selection.'

In 1997, the British Athletics Federation went into administration after the legal battle they had with Diane Modahl, the former Commonwealth Games 800m champion who fought her case when she failed a drugs test.

The current governing body knows it cannot afford a repeat with Chambers.