Chambers fails second test

Dwain Chambers' athletics career lay in tatters tonight after a second analysis of a drug test confirmed the presence of a banned designer steroid in his body.

The European 100 metres champion, one of Britain's main gold medal hopes for next year's Athens Olympics, now faces a two-year suspension from the track and a lifetime ban from the Olympics after one of the biggest drug scandals in British sport.

Islington-born Chambers tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) - a new designer steroid which has been at the centre of what American officials have called a widespread " conspiracy" involving chemists, coaches and athletes - during a random training test on 1 August.

The 25-year-old sprinter, who remains adamant he has never taken any banned drugs or supplements to enhance his performance, will be informed tomorrow that the second analysis of his urine sample (the B test) has confirmed the presence of THG.

UK Athletics are expected to make an announcement tomorrow.

The B test was needed before any disciplinary action could start against Chambers. The sprinter will be provisionally suspended while UK Athletics investigate the case and decide what action to take.

Chambers will have the right to defend himself at a UK Athletics hearing, which must take place within 28 days. The IAAF, the world governing body of athletics, refused to confirm the result of the B test today, but Standard Sport understands it is positive.