James Dasaolu will not be in contention for the Great Britain squad for this month’s inaugural World Relay Championships after coach Steve Fudge confirmed the sprinter would have a delayed start to the season following injury.
Dasaolu, who made the semi-finals of the 100m at London 2012, became the second faster British sprinter in history behind Linford Christie when he clocked 9.91seconds at the British Championships last summer.
He appeared to have carried that form over into the indoor season before a hamstring tear brought an end to any hopes of competing at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot.
But while he has now recovered from the injury, two months of rehabilitation has left the 26-year-old behind schedule and not yet ready for a return to action.
The first ever World Relay Championships features races from 4x100m up to 4x1500m and takes place in Nassau from May 24-25.
With Adam Gemili also unavailable due to university exams, Dasaolu’s absence leaves Britain short in the 4x100m with Fudge insisting his athlete was on track for a later start to the season.
“Racing at this time in the year is too early in the season for him, particularly in view of his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury,” Fudge told the Daily Telegraph.
“He did not attend the eight-week relay camp in Florida as he chose to stay at home and focus on his rehabilitation and also to get married in April.
“The rehab is going to plan and he is doing his full 100m training programme, albeit that the injury meant a later start to his schedule. Everything is pointing to a later, shorter summer season, but there are no issues with the injury.”
© Sportsbeat 2014