European cross-country champion Mo Farah yesterday branded Dwain Chambers a "loser" and dismissed his claims that only drug-fuelled athletes can win an Olympic title.

Farah, 24, the European 5,000 metres silver medallist, is trying to compete with the Africans who dominate middle distance and distance running.

He was disgusted as he watched Chambers' claims on television that talent and determination alone would never be enough for an athlete to succeed at the highest level.

Farah said: "That was nonsense. I was really angry about that. I train so hard and for him to say you can't do it without cheating is wrong.

"I believe that if you train your hardest you can achieve. Look at Paula Radcliffe. She trains hard and that is why she does incredible things.

"How does she set a world record and he doesn't? You (Chambers) are a loser. It is because you don't want to train hard."

Chambers is now building a career in American Football with the Hamburg Sea Cats after testing positive for performance-boosting drug THG.

When asked whether a clean athlete could win an Olympic final over a rival on drugs, the former European 100m champion said: "It's possible, but the person that's taken drugs has to be having a real bad day. That's what I believe."

Farah even questioned whether Chambers should have been allowed to make those claims on television, but he was pleased the lesson of Chambers' demise was clear for all to see.

He said: "Sometimes you make the wrong decision and it is fair enough to hold your hands up and say 'I've done it'. I respect him for admitting he took a wrong turn.

"But then at the same time to say you cannot get to the top without cheating - I don't believe that.

"It is what you teach yourself. There will be times when you think nothing will happen but you have to be strong, you have to believe that you can achieve your goals otherwise what is the point?

"You have to have a hunger. You have to want it and you have to believe that you can get there.

"If you don't believe, why bother? Things might not always go your way. That is life. You have to deal with it.

"I had these dreams as a kid and I still have them. I want to go as far as I can and do the best I can."

The Mogadishu-born athlete is targeting a medal at the world championships in Osaka this year and that means breaking the African stronghold.

But he has already seen Australian Craig Mottram challenge that monopoly and after living in south-west London with a group of Kenyans - including Micah Kogo, the world No 1 over 10,000m - Farah is convinced it is possible.

"I have lived with these guys and I believe we can mix it with them,'' said Farah.

"They may be a bit more talented, but then we have to train that bit harder. I have been training with Craig Mottram out in Australia and I have learned that from him.

"He has a real heart. He is not afraid of those guys and he mixes it up with them.

"You cannot give up. You should train as hard as you can. That is what Craig does. I have seen how hard he trains."

Farah has been selected as one of 16 athletes on Team Visa, who will be given mentoring and guidance in the build-up to the Beijing Olympics by Sir Steven Redgrave and Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

''Steve is a legend, he won five Olympic medals and I used to stay up late into the night to watch him. I had never met him before yesterday and to have him there to give me advice is amazing,'' said Farah.

The idea is for Redgrave and Grey-Thompson to tap into their wealth of experience to help the 16 youngsters, who also include gymnastics world champion Beth Tweddle, in their Olympic preparations.

Redgrave joined Farah in dismissing Chambers' claims, holding up his own record for scrutiny for what can be achieved at Olympic level without resorting to designer steroids.

Redgrave won a record five Olympic gold medals and said: "What Chambers had to say is totally ridiculous. Sprinters can be very insular and a law unto themselves."