Campbell pulls out of world champs

Olympic silver medallist Darren Campbell today pulled out of Britain's squad for next month's World Championships in Edmonton but insisted he will not turn his back on athletics.

Campbell, who finished second in last year's Olympic 200m in Sydney, has been struggling with a hamstring injury all season and failed to recover in time to win an individual place in the 100m or 200m.

A spot in the men's 4x100m relay team was left open for him but after two days of soul searching he has decided not to take it.

He will instead concentrate on getting fit in time for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, which start exactly one year from today.

And there is no question of Campbell - who last year said he would consider a career in football if athletics didn't bring him the success he craved - quitting the track.

He said today: "I'm not going to go to Edmonton. I need to have a week or so for the injury to heal up and then I will really focus on next year. There could be a chance of me running at the end of the season but for me this year was all about going to the World Championships and winning medals.

"If I can't go there and participate in that, it is pointless."

The 26-year-old sprinter from Manchester was given until Sunday's Norwich Union British Grand Prix at Crystal Palace to prove his fitness.

But he finished last in the 200m which was won in a personal-best time by his friend and rival Dwain Chambers who will now take his relay place.

Campbell's initial reaction on Sunday night was to pull out of the British team but he was told by his coach, former Olympic and world 100m champion Linford Christie, to give himself a further 48 hours to decide.

Campbell, speaking at a launch to mark the countdown to Manchester 2002 in Trafalgar Square this morning, added: "I said to Linford, 'I don't know what I have done to deserve this'."

"I had my best winter training and started the season with my quickest training times ever. I did all the work I could do.

"Sydney opened my eyes and made me realise I am one of the top sprinters in the world.

"I have to give it another shot for another three years until the Athens Olympics where I would like to go out of the sport with a gold medal in my pocket."