Electronic Telegraph Saturday 16 September 2000 Tom Knight DWAIN CHAMBERS chose the relative obscurity of the Griffith University track here to add the finishing touches to his Olympic preparations. With the opening ceremony in full swing, in front of a crowd of 110,000 in Sydney, the 22-year-old sprinter turned out in a low-key meeting especially staged for British athletes. He clocked 6.62sec to win the 60 metres, ahead of Christian Malcolm, Allyn Condon and Marlon Devonish. The time was modest enough - probably slower than he would have liked - but, on a cool evening and in front of a handful of team-mates and officials, it was just the work-out the World Championship bronze medallist needed after a week of training at the British Olympic Association's holding camp. His next outing over 100m will come in Friday's first round heat. He said: "This was just to get my legs turning over again. I didn't want to show my colours over 100m. I'll leave that to when I get to Stadium Australia." Chambers then dismissed reports from Maurice Greene's camp that the American world champion had completed his latest training session with 100m in a hand-timed 9.78sec, quicker than the world record he set last year in Athens. "It means nothing," said Chambers, who beat Greene two weeks ago in Gateshead. He added: "We can all run fast in training. What counts is what he can produce in next Saturday's Olympic final. I'll be there and so will a lot of other good guys. I've been training for the gold medal and so have they." Chris Rawlinson warmed up for his assault on the 400m hurdles title with a run over 300m and eight barriers in 35.68sec. Denise Lewis will find out on Tuesday if she will face France's Eunice Barber, who beat her to the world heptathlon title last year, but who has been suffering from a hamstring injury. Dieter Baumann, Germany's former Olympic champion who is accused of using banned drugs, flew out of the Olympic city yesterdaywithout turning up for the arbitration hearing into his case. Baumann, the 1992 Olympic 5,000m gold medallist, is facing a two-year ban after twice testing positive for nandrolone in October and November 1999. Although originally suspended by the German federation, Baumann had his ban lifted earlier this year. The International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) then stepped in, ordering another hearing. "It is Germany that is in dock," Giorgio Reineri, the IAAF spokesman said after the hearing began."The ruling in this case affects the national federation, because the panel of the German federation did not uphold the rules of the IAAF." The hearing began on Thursday but was suspended to give the athlete the opportunity to attend. Baumann, 35, who has constantly maintained his innocence, is believed to have taken a flight to Brisbane, to return to Germany's pre-Olympic training camp on the Gold Coast. The IAAF arbitration panel comprised Lin Kok Loh, of Singapore, the chairman, South African Monty Hacker, and Conny Jorneklint, from Sweden. The panel are expected to deliver their judgment in time for the IAAF Council meeting here on Tuesday. Eamonn Condon WWW.RunnersGoal.com
