Photo Gallery Running the Matrix
Dwain Chambers: a fallen star in the world of sports. In 2002 he won the 100-meter sprint at the European Championship in Munich, covering the distance in 9.87 seconds. His title was later annuled after he tested positive for a range of performance-enhancing drugs. Chambers paid about $30,000 a year to be drugged illegally, training up to six hours a day.
When the doping scandal was revealed, Chambers' popularity plummeted. He no longer competed on the world-stage. To earn money he wrote a book and trained with now-defunct NFL Europe team Hamburg Sea Devils.
The 31-year-old athlete tried out with the Castleford Tigers rugby team in Britain last year, with the hope of securing a contract for the season.
In 2003, Chambers attempted a comeback into the world of running at the World Athletics Championships near Paris, but did not manage a successful return to athletics until early 2008.
Competing at the Birmingham Games in 2008, Chambers managed to set a new meeting record with a time of 6.60 second over 60 meters.
Usain Bolt (middle) raises his hand in prayer as he waits in the starting blocks of the men's 100-meter final at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Bolt has become a global superstar and a national hero in his native Jamaica, and earns millions today. Despite commanding up to $250,000 per appearance event managers are eager to book him.
When he captured Olympic gold in the 100 meter in Beijing, Bolt slowed down 10 meters before the finish line because his left shoe was untied, and yet he achieved a world record of 9.69 seconds.
Despite being overwhelmed with joy, the debate over whether or not the world should believe Bolt began just seconds after he crossed the finish line. Many are still suspicious of Bolt, claiming that the system that monitors performance-enhancing drug use in Jamaica is inadequate.
Bolt's experience points to a new reality in modern-day sports: Audiences no longer trust their heroes. They marvel at their achievements, but then they ask themselves: Was it real?
In July 2009, he won the men's 100 meters at the Athletics Grand Prix at Crystal Palace in London. Germany's Puma has plans to shape Bolt into an icon, like Tiger Woods or Roger Federer.
Chambers and Bolt will come head to head when they compete at this month's Athletics World Championships in Berlin. Chambers is referring to it as "Project Bolt." An acquaintance recently asked Chambers whether the winner in Berlin would be a clean runner. He replied: "If that's what you want to believe, go ahead."
Bolt seems to be on a winning streak as he prepares for the meet in the German capital. He did, after all, become the first man in 24 years to claim the Olympic sprint double when he won the 200 meter in a new world record time of 19.30 seconds as well as the 100 meter.
