Chambers sets new European 60m record

Dope-tainted Dwain Chambers set a new European 60m record at the European indoor championships yesterday when he won his semi-final in a time of 6.42 seconds.

Chambers, who missed the Olympic Games despite having served out a two-year drugs ban, improved the previous European best of 6.45 seconds set by France's Ronald Pognon in Karlsruhe in 2005.

The British sprinter also clocked the third best time over the distance in history, behind America's Maurice Greene, the world record holder, who ran 6.39 seconds and Andre Cason, 6.41 seconds.

This winter, he had already set a season-best mark of 6.51 seconds, equalling the time of America's Michael Rodgers and he will be the overwhelming favourite in today's final.

Chambers, who served a two-year ban for taking the 'designer' steroid THG in 2003, came into the championships here having made fresh allegations against fellow athletes and authorities in his new autobiography, "Race Against Me".

In the book, the 30-year-old admits he was a "walking junkie" who took "more than 300 different concoctions" of performance-enhancing drugs.

John Regis, himself a former British sprinter and Chambers' one-time agent, has threatened to sue over allegations in the book that he knew about Chambers' drugs use before it spectacularly came to light in 2003.

Chambers has denied his book is purely a money-making exercise amid reports he made £50,000 from the serialisation.

UK Athletics have said they are keeping a watching brief regarding Chambers' allegations.

Meanwhile, he remains severely restricted in the number of events he can compete in because of the zero-tolerance anti-doping policy of the EuroMeets Consortium which organises many meetings.

However, provided he maintains form and fitness, Chambers could well be selected for the World Championships in Berlin in August.