Dwain Chambers' future in athletics received another setback after the Euromeetings consortium recommended their members refuse former drug cheats a start at their meetings.

Euromeetings' spring assembly in Valencia, with around half of the 51 meeting promoters present, unanimously agreed to exclude drug cheats who could cause negative publicity from participating .

However, they backed off from imposing the decision as a cartel, believing if they do it on an individual basis there will be less threat of legal action.

"We discussed mainly the athletes coming back from two or more years ban and since 2003," said Euromeetings president Rajne Soderberg.

Effectively that could mean a total blackout imposed on Chambers, who tested positive for tetrahydrogestrinone (THG) five years ago and served the mandatory two-year punishment.

Chambers may feel some meetings will jump ship and offer him invitations - as has happened in the past, notably with Marion Jones a few years ago.

But with the sport's reputation constantly spotlighted for the wrong reasons, it will be surprising if it happens in the future.

Indeed, the big meetings in London, Stockholm and Zurich will no longer invite any offender who has served a two-year ban or longer.

The Bislett Games in Oslo already does so, believing it has the right to decide who competes there, and there has never been a challenge to its decision.

It will be a further blow to Chambers, who is hoping to resume his comeback after the success of winning the World Indoor 60 metres silver medal on Friday.

Chambers, after his superb performance in Valencia, firmly has the bit between his teeth to continue and achieve more success for his country at global level.

The 29-year-old Londoner will almost certainly this week take legal action to attempt a return to Olympic competition in Beijing this summer.

It is understood, after meeting with his lawyers, he will contest a British Olympic Association regulation banning former drug offenders from representing the UK.

Patrick Magyar, the meet director of the Weltklasse in Zurich, expressed little support for Chambers, well aware he earned more than

200,000 in prize money when cheating.

Magyar said: "I don't know Dwain Chambers as a person, but I know he has made money from the sport.

"I don't think he can expect much sympathy from promoters because he has harmed the sport seriously.

"One of the codes we have in the sport is 'Fair Play'. People who don't (adhere to that), shouldn't be given money."

Magyar, accepting Chambers and others in his situation could be driven out of the sport, said: "If he can't compete, he has a problem.

"He had the opportunity two years ago of resuming his career then went into another sport (American football) and failed."

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