Dwain Chambers feels it defies sense for him to be continually frozen out of major athletics meetings as he bids to establish himself as a contender for world glory later in the year.
The British sprinter, who is hot favourite for gold at the forthcoming European Indoor Championships in Turin, is desperate to challenge the likes of Olympic champion Usain Bolt on a regular basis this summer but accepts he's fighting a losing battle due to his previous drugs conviction of testing positive for THG back in 2003.
The EuroMeetings Group, which represents the leading promoters throughout Europe, recommends members should not invite any athletes with two-year doping offences to their events although there have been a few exceptions to the guidelines.
Although Chambers was allowed to run at last month's European trials in Sheffield, where he clocked a sizzling 6.51 seconds to become the joint-fastest man indoors this winter, he's otherwise been restricted to low-scale events not bound by the EuroMeetings agreement.
The 30-year-old can't understand why the top promoters will not only prevent him a mouthwatering showdown against the world's other fastest men ahead of the outdoor World Championships in Berlin but effectively reduce the quality of their own meeting.
He said: "Logic would tell you that if you've got an athlete who is very high-profile and the crowd want to see, they should be allowed at the meeting because it puts bums on seats.
"I just wish that I can compete fast enough, then doors will open.
"I'm not going to get into a legal battle about it - the rules are there and I just have to abide by them.
"Logically speaking it would make sense for them to let me run because they want to see the fastest men around compete against each other.
"There is no point having a meeting with guys slower than me in it because the people won't want to see that.
"But what can I do? I'm just one man trying to do the best I can. Where I can't compete, just have to go elsewhere. I have to do my job in order to prepare for the World Championships."
While Chambers' two previous indoor races, including the low-key Birmingham Games which was held on the same day as the more lucrative Glasgow Grand Prix at the end of January, should be adequate preparation to help him secure gold in Turin, his chances of greater success in Berlin realistically depend on a more testing build-up.
Even so, the Belgrave Harrier does feel the rejection could work in his favour.
"You don't know what you're up against until you compete with them," he added. "It's fair enough watching them on television but it's not the same feeling. You need to feel it, know it and understand it - that's crucial.
"If I don't get these opportunities it makes me hungrier to get on that line in Berlin, when I'll be like a bat out of hell. It is Catch 22 - it may work for me, it may work against me. But we'll have to see how it goes."
Having received the backing of UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee, Chambers, who failed in a bid to overturn his lifetime Olympic ban last summer, remains hopeful that a selection of meetings may consider him if he can fulfil his long-term dream of a podium place at the World Championships.
He said: "I need to get familiar with competing again because it was a bit sketchy last year. I don't know if it will be like that this year but I am a lot more optimistic as I have more support and people are more flexible now.
"I'm still pending a few responses from outdoor meetings - some haven't said yes but they haven't said no either so that's reassuring. We can only plan when we know where we stand so at the moment we're still a little blind.
"But I can't let this detract from my determination to compete and my focus. I just hope my performances indoor will open doors for the future. And if I don't get the opportunities to race on the circuit against the big guys I'll have to wait until Berlin."
Some critics of Chambers argued his presence at the recent trials overshadowed other British hopefuls attempting to make a name for themselves but the controversial sprinter believes he has a positive impact.
"When people are fast enough to beat me then they will get the limelight," he said. "That's the way the world works.
"I've had attention since I was 14, always having a camera in my face and I've learned to deal with it. A lot of the other British athletes are learning to deal with it but some struggle.
"My presence there teaches others how to deal with pressure and when it's their time to shine they will have their moment. I just need to concentrate on being the best I can to achieve my goals."
Chambers is also hoping his autobiography, Race Against Me, which is to be released on March 9, will also help him move forward and close the chapter on a difficult past.
He said: "It's something I've really put a lot of time and energy into and I want to see the reaction from a positive point of view. I've always been known for being an athlete so now I've turned myself into a writer!
"I think the readers will have a better understanding of me and know me more and that is going to make a lot difference in people's mindsets. There was a lot that went on which hasn't been told and I'll add balance to that so people will have a better understanding of the ins and outs of my situation and how it all came about.
"Partly why I've written it is to close a chapter on my past. It's time we move on from it and I think people just want to see me on the track and running fast again. It shouldn't be about what happened all those years ago.
"Some people like to live in the past and doing that can cause a lot pain. I know I'm not going to be everyone's cup of tea but what I can do is present them with a better understanding of what happened to me.
"I am a human, an athlete, a father and a family man but like everyone else, we all make mistakes. But what defines us as individuals is how we pick ourselves and deal with it.
"Part of what spurs me on is that I don't know how people will react but I have the feeling that the general public are more supportive of me and they want to see me compete. I've been given the opportunity so I'm going to take with both hands and run with it."
Away from competition, Chambers is enthusiastic to give advice to youngsters and is confident he can guide them away from the route he regretfully opted to take.
He said: "Youngsters always ask me questions about how to approach races and all sorts of other crazy ones which I've never been asked before. But I'm in the position to provide information and I'm not afraid to give any answers. I'll give them the truth. When I wanted advice, I never got it. That's why I made mistakes and having the problems I'm currently dealing with.
"So if I can deter one individual from going down the road I did then my experience in sport has served its purpose.
"Although devastating for me at the time, my experiences will help the sport in the long term because I can educate the youth. It has been hard for me and I would never wish that on anyone else. I'm now in a position when I can help try to stop it from happening again."
'Race Against Me: My Story' by Dwain Chambers, is published by Libros International on March 9. The book can be purchased at www.librosinternational.com
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