Chambers is currently barred from competing in an Olympics under a BOA bylaw which bans athletes convicted of drug offences from the British team unless there are mitigating circumstances. The sprinter's legal team yesterday filed papers with the High Court against the BOA, arguing the bylaw is unenforceable and an unreasonable restraint of trade.

However, the BOA are planning to staunchly defend their position and said in a statement: "In the interests of the British Olympic movement and the athletes who aspire to line up at an Olympic Games and our youngsters looking for Olympic glory in London, the BOA confirms that it will vigorously and unequivocally defend its lifetime ban on drug cheats who have brought themselves and their sports into disrepute."

The BOA's stance was fully supported by UK Athletics, who said: "The UK Athletics board fully supports the bylaw and are unanimous in their desire to see it upheld,. However, the board will respect the outcome of these High Court proceedings."

Chambers, 30, is well aware that having served a two-year suspension for using the designer steroid tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) he could not pursue the mitigating circumstances route through the BOA.

He will be hoping the BOA will agree to the case being heard next week before the British Olympic trials take place in Birmingham the following weekend.

After posting the fastest 100m time this year by a British athlete, running 10.05seconds in Sofia on Monday, Chambers is favourite to win the title which would normally guarantee Olympic selection.

But his barrister Jonathan Crystal, a specialist sports barrister, will need to convince the judge at the hearing, which may possibly last two days and cost around £200,000, that the BOA regulation is unfair.