DARREN Campbell has confirmed he will "definitely be retiring in the next week" as he reiterated he has no regrets about his anti-drugs stance at the European Championships where he refused to share in Great Britain's 4x100metres relay celebrations.

The 32-year-old is Britain's most successful sprinter behind his coach Linford Christie with medals at Olympic, world, Commonwealth and European level.

However, he is set to make his final bow following appearances at the Celtic Cup in Falkirk and the Norwich Union International in Birmingham at the weekend.

Campbell told Sky News Lunchtime Live: "Pretty much, I've got one more competition in Falkirk on Thursday, I'm not sure if I'll be taking place in the Norwich Union Games in Birmingham but pretty much if I do that's it.

"I believe I've given my all for my country. I feel extremely proud and privileged to have been able to wear the British vest with pride but you know, in life everything comes to an end so you know I'll definitely be retiring in the next week."

Following the relay squad's victory on Sunday, Campbell did not join his team-mates Dwain Chambers, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis on the lap of honour.

Instead, he did an interview with BBC television which he now acknowledges was incoherent to viewers and media alike.

Support

Initially it was thought the former Olympic 200m runner-up was protesting about Chambers being reinstated into the side on his return to championship racing after a two-year drugs suspension.

But Campbell insisted he fully supported the return of Chambers to the British side and still wished him well.

The Sale Harrier admitted he should have planned it better and conveyed the message he was attacking unscrupulous drug pedlars rather than his team-mate.

Campbell, however, is eager Chambers names and shames the suppliers who brought about his downfall.

"He's been accepted back into the fold by everyone and still has the chance to do it," said Campbell, who is in Beijing for the IAAF World Junior Championships.

The athlete insists he is not retiring because of drugs but is satisfied with his stance.

"I'm here supporting the juniors who are going to compete at the World Junior Championships, so the future's bright and I think I've made now a big-enough statement, that you know if that gets cleaned up, then the sport is safe.

"I just don't want people to think that our sport is not safe because I've been doing it since I was eight years old."

Campbell has an ambassador's role in China, funded by Norwich Union's é50million to support UK Athletics in the build-up to the 2012 London Olympic Games, and is already involved in grassroots development.

Last year he organised 60m street races in Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool and London, which saw almost 2000 youngsters take part.

Venture

The venture was one of the reasons which fuelled Campbell's protest in Gothenburg.

Campbell said: "As a UKA ambassador and working in the sport at grassroots level, these boys and girls are important to me.

"I don't want to see them caught up in it."

Campbell added: "Everyone thought I was singling out Dwain on Sunday - it may have seemed that way, but I wasn't.

"I didn't want to spurn Dwain - I'm glad he's back running at international level.

"He's got the evidence from what happened to him in the United States of what's going on in our sport and I was big enough to say that.

"Looking back I'd like to apologise to everyone for not doing the lap of honour. But otherwise I believe what I did was right.

"Some people have suggested I went rushing up to speak to the BBC for self-publicity.

"That's not true. Now I realise I should have waited longer before putting my case and not done so.

"Then I should have spoken with them, radio and you lot."

Campbell stressed his "inappropriate" behaviour in the Ullevi stadium was not because of his close links to Christie.

Neither was it "hypocritical", he claimed, given Christie, who last week was announced as a mentor to UK Athletics' brightest stars, was banned for two years for using nandrolone in 1999.

His appointment has been strongly criticised by many in the sport, including IAAF council member Sir Sebastian Coe and world marathon record holder, Paula Radcliffe.

Campbell today defended his friend, pointing out at the time there was an epidemic of guilty nandrolone decisions, including a questionable one against top British 400m runner, Mark Richardson.

"I'm not saying he's guilty of anything," Campbell said today, "I was just using him as another example of what went on that time."

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