Chambers wins Sanderson backing

Dwain Chambers served a two-year ban for taking drugs

Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson has given her backing to sprinter Dwain Chambers over his desire to race at the World Indoor Championships.

Chambers has made a controversial return to the sport after a two-year drugs ban, and won the 60m on Sunday at the British team's indoor trials.

But UK Athletics could still prevent him from competing for Great Britain.

"He's served his ban, leave him alone, and let him get on with it," Sanderson told BBC Sport.

Interview: Tessa Sanderson

"I happen to know Dwain and I think he is nice guy but he made a big mistake and moved to America and got embroiled in the whole thing.

"He's been brought back into the sport and allowed back by the governing bodies and he understands that he has made a mistake. If he does well, get on with it."

Sanderson won gold in the women's javelin at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and is strongly against drugs in sport.

She admitted that some of her rival competitors were using drugs, but it only served to increase her motivation to succeed.

We should stay out of things like politics Tessa Sanderson

"I remember when I competed I knew people were on drugs and I hated it because I was working hard and getting beaten by some druggie," said Sanderson.

"But what could I do about it other than work harder and get on with it."

Sanderson also said British athletes should refrain from making political comments in China during the 2008 Games in Beijing.

British Olympic officials have insisted there is no intention to gag athletes from making political statements, but Sanderson believed talking should only be done on the track or field.

Sanderson (right) did the Sport Relief Mile in 2006

"You are there to compete and do your job and we should stay out of things like politics," she said.

"They should keep quiet and keep out because they are there to compete and I think that is right.

"We have a lot of young athletes and they might say the wrong thing and it will get blown out of proportion and you don't need that during an Olympics.

"At the end of the day you have worked so hard to make the Olympic game and I think they should keep out of politics and I agree with the IOC and their stance."

Sanderson was speaking at a special Sport Relief recording of the Antiques Roadshow which you can watch on BBC One on Sunday 16 March as part of the Sport Relief weekend.

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