Dwain Chambers admitted he was nervous about the reception he might get from a home crowd at the Powerade Great CityGames in Manchester on Sunday - but it turned out he need not have worried.
The controversial sprinter received a warm welcome from fans in his first race in Europe since being cleared to qualify for the Olympics.
The 34-year-old, who served a two-year drug ban after testing positive for a banned steroid in 2003, is eligible for the British team after the British Olympic Association lifetime ban on drug cheats was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He finished the 150m in second place in 15.27 seconds, with American Wallace Spearmon winning in 14.87secs.
Chambers, who has rehabilitated himself in recent years by preaching the dangers of drugs and expressing remorse for his actions, admitted the reception was a relief and the major positive from the day.
"Today was a great feeling," he said. "I was a bit unsure about how the reception was going to be, but I got a really good one.
"I was a little bit scared about that (the reception), but it turned out really well. And that made the run so much more enjoyable."
It was the first time Chambers has raced in Britain apart from trials since 2006.
He added: "It's been a long time. I think that's been one of the missing pieces in my puzzle of being an athlete, being able to compete at home in front of the crowd."
Chambers was clearly enjoying himself on the start line, joking around with Portugal's Francis Obikwelu.
"Now I've got a free mind I can concentrate on running and enjoying it," he said. "You saw me dancing at the start line which was a bit unusual for me, I'm not a dancer.
"It was weird to be doing that at the start line, that's what made the atmosphere so fantastic.
