LONDON - British sprinter Dwain Chambers has missed the deadline to lodge an appeal against his ban from the Beijing Olympics for serving a two-year doping suspension, the British Olympic Association (BOA) said on Monday.

This is a Sunday Feb. 10, 2008 file photo of British sprinter Dwain Chambers on his way to victory in the 60m Final at the UK Championships in Sheffield England after serving a two-year doping suspension.

A BOA spokeswoman said athletes had been given until February 15 to appeal against any ban to ensure it was processed in time for the Games opening on August 8.

"The deadline was February 15 if he (Chambers) wanted to compete in Beijing," she said. "We haven't received any communication from him as far as I am aware."

The spokeswoman said Chambers could still appeal any time against the lifetime ban imposed by the BOA on any athlete testing positive for drugs.

Chambers, 29, was banned for two years after testing positive for the designer steroid THG in 2003.

He was a member of the British team who won the 4x100 metres relay title at the 2006 European championships and then attempted unsuccessfully to forge a career in American football.

Last week Chambers was selected to compete at the world indoor championships in Valencia, Spain, next month after winning the 60 metres title at the British trials although UK Athletics made it clear they had not wanted to pick him.