LONDON, England (AFP) — Controversial British sprinter Dwain Chambers yesterday said he feels like a gold medal-winner already as he prepares to return to Olympic competition despite an earlier drug ban.

The 34-year-old 100m runner said it was a “dream come true” to compete in London, after being fitted for his Games kit at the British athletics team’s base in central England.

“It has been a long time since Sydney and I have always said I never believed I would get here. Today has just been a dream come true,” Chambers said.

“A goal was to get here, but that wasn’t a goal open to me. Just to be in the atmosphere of the Games is fantastic. To be able to go out there and experience that Olympic atmosphere to me is like a gold medal to me.”

Chambers placed fourth in the 100m at Sydney 2000 but he was caught using the designer steroid THG in 2003 and banned for two years.

He was only cleared to compete in London in April, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Britain’s life ban for drug cheats contravened the world anti-doping code.

“Wearing the kit and the whole process of kitting out has been fantastic and I am thoroughly looking forward to it,” Chambers said.

“It has been well documented about my past and I am just looking forward to a bright future,” he added.