UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins has defended his policy to include Dwain Chambers in the British team which won the European 4x100 metres relay title.

Chambers is ineligible from competing in future Olympic Games under British Olympic Association regulations which ban those who fail drugs tests from representing Team GB in any sport.

The ruling means Chambers is unlikely to figure in the build-up to Beijing as UK Athletics prepare a squad capable of defending the gold medal it won in Athens.

But Collins, hampered by injuries to other key sprinters, selected Chambers in Gothenburg and was rewarded when he ran a fantastic first leg in the British victory.

His inclusion upset seasoned international Darren Campbell, who did not join Chambers, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis, on the traditional lap of honour.

Campbell, without stating any definite reason, said it would be "hypocritical" if he were to join in the celebrations.

Chambers' admission that he was cheating four years ago led to the relay team being stripped of its 2002 Euro gold medals and their silver medals at the World Championships the following summer.

"For me to use any athlete who is ineligible (for the Olympics) is a difficult and complex decision," said Collins, who nevertheless thought the relay quartet had cleared the air between themselves.

Collins, who now flies to the World Junior Championships in Beijing, plans speaking with Campbell who will also be there in an ambassador role.

Collins, who saw his team win 11 medals in Gothenburg, said: "Damn right - I'll be trying to find out what happened and, isn't it a shame after all these positive performances, that we're talking about stuff like that.

"It concerns me greatly because the squad got together and had a discussion and sorted that out.

"As far as I'm concerned there was a full meeting of the squad, the coach was there. Dwain was very open in apologising about the situation which he'd put the other guys in.

"Darren said he wasn't happy, but, as far I understood from that meeting, he had said 'it's okay, let's get on with it'.

"If an athlete isn't happy, I would expect them to talk to me and say they're dissatisfied with this.

"The squad had this conversation but I don't know what's happened."