Sprinter Dwain Chambers won a silver medal in the world indoor championships on Friday, finishing second behind Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba and level with Kim Collins of St Kitts.
The 29-year-old, who is trying to resurrect his athletics career following a two-year doping ban imposed in 2003, clocked a personal best time of 6.54 seconds, the same as Collins who was also awarded silver and three hundredths behind Fasuba.
"I can't please everybody but I have got a medal for my country and I can celebrate that," Chambers told the BBC. "The best man won today but I wanted to go and win and I can't do better than a personal best. I've got my medal and I'm happy."
Chambers was given a positive reception from the crowd in Valencia when he took to the track for the heats in the morning.
When his name was announced over the public address system there was a ripple of applause with none of the threatened booing or jeering and the race went off without a hitch.
Chambers said he was delighted with the reception.
"I'm very happy with it," he told reporters after his first race. "I didn't want any more stress. People have been greeting me and everyone is happy to see me back on the track. I just want to go out there and win a medal for my country."
"It's good to be back on the track and running fast."
Chambers, who got the two-year ban after testing positive for the designer steroid THG, was included in the British team for the world indoors after winning the trials although UK Athletics made it clear they had not wanted to pick him.
He said his open admission about his doping following his ban had won him the respect of the fans.
"The best policy is honesty and that's why I got this response....If you are honest people will learn to forgive you quicker than if you lie."
LIFE BAN
Chambers was given a life ban by the British Olympic Association (BOA) and so will not be allowed to compete in this year's Games in Beijing.
"This is going to be my Olympic Games," said Chambers. "I've got no Olympics in the summer so I am going to put everything I've got into here and let's go and kick arse."
The sprinter, who wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "Just say no" as he warmed up, said he had learned his lesson.
"I feel humbled by my experiences over the past couple of years and all I can do is come out and do things the right way in a positive manner and keep smiling all the way through it.
"This is bringing attention to myself and the sport whether it be good, bad or ugly. I want to use this as an opportunity to get some positive attention to show that taking drugs is wrong and that you can do it clean.
"It [the T-shirt] is a new campaign that I'm going to be launching after the indoors. I want to use myself as an example to go into schools and start doing talks and seminars to kids to not go down the road that I took.
"The only message I want to say is that drugs are wrong and doing it right is the best way. There is more satisfaction from doing things right in a clean manner.
"I can walk down the road and I don't have to watch my back any more about testing. I've got a free heart and a clear mind and that's when the best performances will come out from me."
