Castleford Admit No Chance of Chambers Making Sunday Bow

Castleford admitted last night that there is no chance of Dwain Chambers making his Super League debut against St Helens this weekend, as it emerged that the Rugby Football League's operational rules make it highly unlikely that he will be allowed to play anything more testing than a reserve-team match during his one-month trial.

The Tigers coach, Terry Matterson, had suggested with tongue firmly in cheek at Monday's press conference to mark Chambers' arrival at The Jungle that he could be given a baptism of fire on Sunday. But after being surprised at how much of the media took that possibility seriously, Castleford issued a statement late yesterday confirming that "there is no possibility that Dwain Chambers will be selected for our first team at this moment in time".

They maintained the possibility that he could yet figure in the reserves' game against St Helens that will be played as a curtain-raiser on Sunday, although club insiders suggested even that is highly unlikely after only a couple of training sessions to become vaguely acquainted with the rules of the game and a rugby ball - in which, apparently, he was surprisingly competent under high kicks but understandably clueless about positional play and short of aerobic fitness.

More significant for Chambers' medium-term prospects in rugby league is section B1:12 of the general competition rules covering the fielding of full-strength teams, which states: "In the event that a club wishes to utilize players other than members of their first-team squad - any player utilized in such circumstances must be of Super League or National League standard (as appropriate) - determined by the performance department."

It is implausible that Chambers could satisfy the performance department of his ability to handle a Super League match within the month's trial he has been given by Castleford.

Further evidence that his move north should not be taken too seriously came in an interview on Sky last night, when Chambers revealed he has not even explored the cost of insurance should he play rugby league while retaining the option of appealing against his Olympics ban. "We haven't decided if I'm going to be playing this weekend," he said. "My performance in training is going to dictate what's going to happen with the insurance policy."

Meanwhile, Chambers is set to meet Britain's anti-doping chief, John Scott, as UK Sport seeks an insight into why he took drugs. Chambers was Britain's leading sprinter when he tested positive for the steroid tetrahydrogestrinone in 2003, which brought a two-year ban. His second return to the sport this winter saw Chambers win silver in the 60m at the world indoor championships last month before his decision to play rugby league.

It is likely UK Sport will ask Chambers details of the substances he took, and when he took them, in their attempt to better understand the reasons athletes want to dope. UK Sport's meeting with Chambers is reminiscent of the scenario of the British cyclist David Millar, who was banned for two years for taking erythropoietin (EPO).

When Millar returned, he spoke at last year's UK Sport Anti-Doping Conference and he was then accepted on to the World Anti-Doping Agency's athlete committee, having been nominated by UK Sport and supported by the UCI and British Cycling. When Chambers came back to competitive athletics in February, he said: "Now I want to be part of the solution, I want to be used as a positive example of what you should and shouldn't do."

Chambers has still to announce whether he will appeal to the British Olympic Association against his life ban from competing for Team GB at the Games. He has said he would like to run this summer in Beijing.