Makwala cries foul after being withdrawn from 400M final

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LONDON: Botswana's Isaac Makwala was refused entry to the London Stadium after earlier being withdrawn from the 400M final at the World Championships after falling victim to an outbreak of sickness that has hit scores of competitors.

The 30-year-old, who was considered one of the main challengers to gold medallist Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa and is a national hero, had also been ordered to withdraw from Monday's opening round of the 200 metres.

Makwala insisted he felt well and wanted to race but when he attempted to go through the dedicated athletes' entrance an official and security personnel barred his way and he was led away.

Earlier the sport's governing body the IAAF had issued a statement saying: "Isaac Makwala was withdrawn from the men's 400 metre (final) due to a medical condition on the instruction of the IAAF Medical Delegate."

The head of Botswana's athletics federation, Falcon Sedimo, said that there had been no communication from the IAAF and that Makwala had been ready to race.

"There have been no medical tests at all, it's just generalised assumptions because of the outbreak of sickness and he has just one of those symptoms," he said.

"There has been no official communication, no formal communication from the IAAF at all. We found out from the media that he could not take part and he is heartbroken.

"I met Makwala this afternoon the indications were that he was ready and raring to go."

The IAAF issued a second statement later saying Makwala had been diagnosed with an "infectious disease" following an examination by a doctor in the warm-up medical centre and denied the team had not been informed.

"The team doctor, team leader and team physio had been informed following the medical examination that the athlete should be quarantined for 48 hours and would therefore be missing the 400m final," it said.

"The IAAF is very sorry that the hard work and talent of Isaac Makwala won't be on display tonight but we have to think of the welfare of all athletes."

Earlier, Makwala said that he had felt fit to race in the 200M and felt "ready" for the 400Mfinal.

"I was not that sick," he said. "I just vomited. Like any other athlete, I vomit... I could have run because I did my warm-up well and I did everything well. I was ready to run."

He added that he was heartbroken when he was pulled from the 200 and had been left in the dark about the reasons for his withdrawal.

"They say they are waiting for the medical results but I don't know because they didn't test me. I don't know what, which medical results they are waiting for.

"This is bad. I felt heartbroken yesterday. I was ready for this, I worked hard for this. So I feel like sabotaging or something ... I don't know because I don't have the full information about this."