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

The sprinter tested positive for THG in 2003, served a two-year doping ban and was banned from the Olympics for life by the British Olympic Association. UK Athletics says he is welcome to run for Great Britain again, but he has been banned from many top meets.

"It's not going to be easy," Chambers said. "If I can't earn anything next year then I'll have to consider finding some other kind of living."

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

The Euro Meetings Group, which represents 51 promoters, has banned him and other drug offenders from its events and Chambers admitted: "The duration of my career will depend on how well I'm treated by the meet promoters."

Niels de Vos, the UKA chief executive, failed in an attempt to prevent Chambers competing in last year's World Indoor Championships.

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.

However, in September De Vos said Chambers, who claimed world indoors 60m silver, would be welcome back in the British team.

"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," De Vos said.

Chambers plans to challenge for the European Indoor 60m title in March and then compete at the World Championships in the summer.

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

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.

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