Dwain Chambers

BBC

Sprinter Dwain Chambers has been included in Team GB's athletics squad for the Olympic Games in London, reports the BBC.

The 34-year-old, who won the Games trials, can compete after the British Olympic Association policy of lifetime bans for drug cheats was overturned.

Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Phillips Idowu, Dai Greene and Christine Ohuruogu are among GB gold medal hopes.

Only one woman, Lynsey Sharp, is picked for the 800m with 2009 world bronze medallist Jenny Meadows missing out.

Former European 800m bronze medallist Meadows, who has said she will appeal if not selected, suffered a setback when she pulled out before her European Championships race in Helsinki on Saturday after aggravating an Achilles injury.

Marilyn Okoro, Emma Jackson and Jemma Simpson were other 800m contenders hoping to run in the women's event.

A total of 71 athletes were added on Tuesday to the six previously named marathon runners to complete the GB athletics squad.

Defending 400m title holder Ohuruogu, Ennis (heptathlon), Farah (5,000m and 10,00m), Idowu (triple jump) and Greene (400m hurdles) lead the gold medal prospects.

Adam Gemilli, 18, is the youngest member of the squad and one of three athletes picked for the men's 100m alongside James Dasaolu, 24, and Chambers.

Chambers was banned for two years after testing positive for the designer drug THG in 2003.

He won the 100m trials in Birmingham in 10.25 seconds - seven hundredths of a second outside the 'A' qualification time required and did not run in the 100m at the European Championships . However, he ran 'A' times last summer, which the selectors could take into account.

"For me representing my country in an Olympics is a privilege that should never be taken for granted," said Chambers.

"To be given the opportunity to do so in my home town has been a dream that at times has seemed very distant and is now a reality."

One of the toughest choices facing UK Athletics was which athletes from five contenders to pick for the women's 800m.

Athletes have 24 hours in which to lodge a written appeal.

Appeals can only be made on the grounds that the selectors had their facts wrong or did not properly employ their own published criteria.

Women's 800m are likely to be the most contested, with five women chasing the three available spots.

Jenny Meadows, the 800m world bronze medallist in 2009, had already said she planned to appeal if she was overlooked
Marilyn Okoro and Emma Jackson have run the 'A' standard this year but finished fifth and seventh respectively at the Olympic trials - won by Sharp, who also claimed a European silver medal.

Jemma Simpson competed in Helsinki but finished seventh in the final.

Sharp had not achieved the 'A' standard, and a Team GB statement read: "International rules of sport mean an athlete who has achieved the 'B' standard can only be selected if there are no 'A' standard athletes in that event selected to the team."

Head coach Charles van Commenee admitted he is bracing himself for a "heap of appeals" from athletes after Tuesday's announcement.

Three athletes are Van Commenee's discretionary picks - Nigel Levine (men's 400m), Lee McConnell (women's 400m), Julia Bleasdale (women's 5,000m).

Eilish McColgan, 21, the daughter of former 10,000m world champion Liz, will represent Britain in the women's 3,000m steeplechase.

World bronze medallist Andy Turner, 31, is selected for the 110m hurdles.
Chambers was joined in the squad by another athlete previously barred due to a drugs ban, with Carl Myerscough selected in the shot put.