Dwain Chambers has been banned from athletics for two years today by UK Athletics.

"Dwain Chambers co-operated with UK Athletics during the hearing process and accepted many issues in relation to his case.

"The disciplinary committee had only therefore to deal with legal arguments and complex scientific issues as to whether THG was in fact a prohibited substance.

"THG is not specifically listed on the IAAF’s list of prohibited substances. The disciplinary committee had to decide whether THG was chemically or pharmacologically related to a substance on the IAAF’s list of banned substances.

"Dwain Chambers accepted the chemical relationship but he argued that it was necessary for UK Athletics to prove a pharmacological relationship too.

"UK Athletics argued that it need only prove either a chemical relationship or a pharmacological one, and in any event in this particular case there was both a chemical relationship and a pharmacological one.

"Once the legal arguments on the wording of the rule had been heard, the evidence at the hearing concentrated on whether a pharmacological relationship existed (ie whether THG had the same effect on the body as one of the listed substances).

"Detailed evidence on this subject on behalf of UK Athletics was given by Professor Don Catlin of the IOC Accredited Laboratory in Los Angeles, Dr Larry Bowers of the US Anti-Doping Agency and Professor Vivian James and Professor Robert Smith, both of the University of London.

Detailed evidence was also heard from experts representing Dwain Chambers.

"Having heard this evidence, the disciplinary committee was satisfied that UK Athletics had proved that the relationship was made out and that THG was chemically and pharmacologically related to gestrinone.

"It also ruled that it was in fact only necessary to prove either a chemical or a pharmacological relationship.

"Dwain Chambers has 60 days to file any appeal of this decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport should he wish to challenge it."