The disgraced sprinter is seeking a High Court order on Wednesday to lift a lifetime ban on competing in future Games imposed by the British Olympic Association – the BOA regulations prohibit any athlete found guilty of taking performance-enhancing drugs, as Chambers was, from competing in the Olympics, even after their suspensions are served.

But before that, Chambers, must take first or second place in the 100m at the Olympic trials at the weekend to be eligible for the British team.

There was a brief hearing yesterday morning at the High Court when the date was set for the application for an injunction which would suspend the BOA by-law until the hearing of a full trial on the issue next March.

Asked about his chances outside the court, Chambers said: "I am confident about what I am capable of doing and the rest is up to the decision of the court – and I will abide by that decision."

He said he did find the court appearance a strain but said it would not affect his performance at the athletics trials.

"I will be fine," said the 30-year-old, who had an unsuccessful trial with Castleford Tigers earlier this year.

Lord Moynihan, chairman of the BOA, said that he welcomed the chance to put the BOA's case before the courts.

It will be a test of the by-law which bans those who have been found taking performance-enhancing drugs from the British Olympic team unless there are mitigating circumstances.

Chambers knew that having served a two-year suspension for using the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG), there was no hope in pursuing the mitigating circumstances route through the BOA – especially as he admitted taking the drugs knowlingly.

Instead, he went directly to the High Court to put his case before Mr Justice Mackay, who agreed to hear Chambers's application for a temporary lifting of the ban which would enable him to compete in Beijing.

Jonathan Crystal, a specialist sports barrister, will try to convince the judge that the BOA regulation is unfair and an unreasonable restraint on his client's livelihood. Crystal said that next Wednesday, he would be trying to persuade the court to "disapply the diseligibility provisions" under the BOA by-law.

"It is a high burden but we are confident we shall succeed in that task," he said.

Gold medal contender Jana Rawlinson was forced to withdraw from Beijing through injury, just hours after being named in the Australia squad for next month's Games.

The 400m hurdles world champion, married to Rotherham-born former Commonwealth gold medalist Chris Rawlinson, has a toe problem. The 25-year-old finished fifth in Athens in 2004.

Britain's former triple jump world champion Ashia Hansen has retired after losing her battle to be fit for the Olympics.

The 36-year-old former world record-holder had hoped to compete at this weekend's Olympic trials in her home city of Birmingham.