Dwain Chambers not out in the wilderness in Doha

From David Jordan, Sportsbeat, in Doha

 NOT so long ago Dwain Chambers was Public Enemy No.1 and lost in the wilderness but on the eve of the World Indoor Athletics Championships, the reformed sprinter is far from alone in the deserts of Doha.

CHANGED MAN: As Dwain Chambers gains reacceptance in the British athletics world, scenes like the above are becoming less and less frequent (Getty Images)

Chambers' past still precedes him but at 31 and with fatherhood to distract him, the cloud of controversy that perennially accompanies the fastest man in Britain is nowhere near as dark or menacing as it was once.

Two years ago, UK Athletics begrudgingly acknowledged they had no choice but to pick Chambers for the 2008 World Indoor Championships but promptly announced they were unanimously opposed to his inclusion.

A year ago, Chambers, while not exactly welcomed with open arms, was picked for the European Indoor Championships by UKA head coach Charles van Commenee - the Dutch taskmaster who found no reason to treat the convicted drugs cheat with excessive hostility.

Chambers' promptly clinched gold in Turin but that dovetailed with the release of his autobiography ,which was riddled with bitterness and disdain for those who continued to stress his pariah status.

In Turin, Chambers crossed the line with a volcanic eruption of anger towards those who would not accept his rehabilitation but at present, the chip on his shoulder is nowhere to be seen.

He cruised home in 6.50 seconds at the World Trials last month with a smile on his face and is in relaxed mood ahead of his quest for gold in Doha this weekend.

"Going in with the fastest time in the world you think you are ahead of the field and everybody.  However, I've got to use my brain a little bit smarter how I approach this situation," he said.

"I just have to make sure I am one step ahead of everybody else. I know in my mind I am a lot stronger mentally and that's very important when you are on the start line.

"It's not about your physical preparation it's your mental. state of mind. You train your mind not your body - so as long as my mind is in the right place the other should fall into place.

"I have more faith in the sport and I have more faith in myself. I respect myself more. I am not lying to myself. I've got kids now. I get on the phone after I've won and that's a huge reward.

"That is a huge reason why I've got my self back. For me it's just a case of getting back into the system. This is a new era for me."

The fact that he was invited to the UKA headquarters in Birmingham for the pre-Doha press conference speaks volumes.

Not only Chambers is warming to the reacceptance he has for so long desired but van Commenee is proving he is not one to dwell on the past.

"The fact that he's in the lion's den should tell you something," said van Commenee. "I treat him as any other team member."

After all, Chambers' fastest time over 60m is just 0.03 short of Maurice Greene's world record and he arrives in Doha as the fastest man in the world this year after the news that the USA's Ivory Williams has been banned for three-months for testing positive for marijuana.

He is clearly an asset worth having but Van Commenee's role in Chambers' rehabilitation cannot be understated. He is not one to mince his words and by the same token the Dutchman has little time for unnecessary grudges.

He did however rule with his well-known iron fist amid revelations that Chambers was still working with Victor Conte - the man who supplied Chambers with his cocktail of performance-enhancing drugs.

"I've had to [end my relationship with Conte]," Chambers said. "As far as I'm concerned, that relationship had to be terminated and it is. I just want a clear run now. I've had enough of the past."

Van Commenee makes no bones about the fact he ordered such action and there will be no emotional embrace should the sprinter claim gold.

But that said, a nod of approval would go just as far.  

"Chambers has cut all contact with Conte as a result of what I said to him. He has made some smart decisions recently," said van Commenee. "He's an experienced athlete who has matured quite a bit."

He may still receive no National Lottery Funding and his hopes of competing at London 2012 are over but as Chambers continues to edge closer to redemption, you get the feeling that little else matters.

Aviva has been proud to have helped and supported the Aviva GB & NI junior, senior and disability teams as they prepare for all major events and championships since 1999. Visit www.aviva.co.uk/athletics for more information