Caines and Campbell drop out

Britain's squad for the World Championships starting in Edmonton on Friday week was diminished yesterday as world indoor 400m champion Daniel Caines dropped out.

Darren Campbell, the Olympic 200m silver medallist, also confirmed his withdrawal from the relay team after missing out on an individual sprint place.

Caines, who has been suffering with a shin injury for more than a month and missed the World Trials in Birmingham, returned to action in last Sunday's Norwich Union Grand Prix at Crystal Palace, recording 45.87sec. Having recorded a world qualifying mark earlier in the season, the 21-year-old law graduate was given one of the two remaining 400m places by the selectors on Monday alongside Jamie Baulch and trials winner Mark Richardson.

But yesterday he decided he was not in sufficient shape to do justice to himself through the rounds in Canada. "I am obviously very disappointed to be missing out on my first outdoor World Championships as I had hoped to build on my success in the indoor season," Caines said.

"However, I am young enough to come back and there is no point in sacrificing my career when rest will heal the injury."

Campbell has struggled to recover his outstanding early season fitness after suffering a hamstring injury at the end of May, and finished last in Sunday's 200m. Ahead of him, his friend Dwain Chambers claimed the last remaining individual place for the long sprint with a personal best time of 20.31sec.

Campbell will not be competing again this season in order to recover fully. "I picked up an injury at the start of the season, where I pulled my hamstring," he said. "Maybe I tried to come back earlier than I should have.

"I was advised to take six to eight weeks off, but my aim this year was to go to the World Championships in the individual and try and win medals. Unfortunately the injury has stopped me from doing that.

"Things are looking quite positive at the moment, but I have been unable to shake it off. Subsequently, I won't be taking a place in the 4x100m team.

"Rather than go and be put in on the basis I'm Darren Campbell, I don't believe I should go. The other guys should be given their chance."

Campbell is determined to rebuild his sprinting style and come back in 2002 at the top of his game, ready for a tilt at glory at the Commonwealth Games. "What drives me is winning medals," he said. "Maybe it's a blessing in disguise and I need this bit of time off. If I can come back for the Commonwealth Games with three gold medals, I'll be a happy man."