Jamaica's veteran sprinter Merlene Ottey will not compete at the athletics world championships in Edmonton in August, her manager Daniel Zimmerman said on Wednesday. He said Ottey, who has won 14 world championship medals, was still upset over protests by Jamaica team-mates at her inclusion in the Sydney Olympic Games.
He also said Ottey felt that at 41 she might not be up to running a number of heats. Team members protested when Ottey was picked ahead of Jamaica's 100 metres national champion Peta-Gaye Dowdie for last year's Olympics.
"After what happened in Sydney, she does not necessarily want to go back," said Zimmerman. "Having half the team protesting doesn't make you feel motivated. And running the rounds may be tough on her body at this age."
Ottey, fourth in the Sydney 100 metres final at her sixth Olympic Games, will miss her second consecutive world championships. She did not take part in the championships in Seville two years ago because of a drugs ban which was later lifted.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
