Hard-up Dwain Chambers may retire

(GETTY IMAGES)

Dwain Chambers has revealed he may have to retire in 2009 because of financial concerns.

Since returning to the track after serving a drugs ban, Chambers has gradually improved his relationship with UK Athletics.

But the hard-up sprinter admits he could be forced to bring down the curtain on his career and look for alternative employment if he cannot make a proper living from the sport in the coming year.

The Londoner currently relies on his partner to pay the bills and even on the few occasions he has won prize money since his return, he has handed it over to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to whom he owes over £100,000, money earned during the period he was using performance-enhancing drugs.

"I'm able to continue competing as long as my lady is still in a job," Chambers told PA Sport.

"I have no-one other than Leonie supporting me."

The 30-year-old sprinter still cannot enter the money-spinning events, after the Euro Meetings Group which represents 51 promoters banned him and other drug offenders from its events.

Chambers has been contacting promoters, looking for races, and admitted: "The duration of my career will depend on how well I'm treated by the meet promoters.

"But it's not going to be easy. If I can't earn anything next year then I'll have to seriously consider finding some other kind of living."

Chambers was speaking only days after UKA chief executive Niels de Vos, who failed in an attempt to prevent him competing in last year's World Indoor Championships, confirmed the sprinter would now be welcome in the British team.

De Vos said: "The reason I didn't think Dwain should have competed in the world indoors was that he had not been on a (drugs) testing programme for 12 months. That was it, pure and simple."

UKA at that time were unaware Chambers had however continued to abide by IAAF out-of-competition regulations and the world governing body pronounced he was eligible to race.

Reluctantly they were forced to include Chambers in the team for Valencia where with a brilliant display he shared the 60metres silver medal with Kim Collins of St Kitts & Nevis.

Chambers has welcomed UKA's latest decision and he plans to challenge for the European Indoor 60m title in March and then compete at the IAAF World Championships in the summer.

Despite the current strain on his finances, Chambers has set future targets for himself, even if he knows a British Olympic Association lifetime ban will mean he cannot even consider competing at the London 2012 Games.

"I plan opening my season at the Birmingham Games in January, then the trials as I want to run in the European Indoors and at the World Championships in the summer," he said.

"I want to win medals for my country. I can achieve that and get the job done."

Now that he is welcome in the British camp, a move which was also supported by incoming UKA head coach Charles van Commenee, Chambers is determined to further strengthen his relationship with the authorities.

Chambers reveals in his book Race Against Me, which will be published in March, how he not only lost his house but saw his income drop from six figures to nothing.

He will soon attempt to overturn his ban on competing at UKA-organised international meetings, which could provide him with valuable income.

Chambers said: "I'll try to arrange a meeting with Niels de Vos in the new year and we'll see what happens."