Team GB star Zharnel Hughes withdraws from Olympic 200m as statement issued | Other | Sport

Team GB sprinter Zharnel Hughes has withdrawn from tonight’s 200m heats. Despite failing to make the final in the 100m, the 29-year-old had been expected to go again over the longer distance.

However, the British record holder has now pulled out, citing hamstring tightness.

A British Athletics statement says Hughes will be monitored over the next 48 hours.

They added no decision has yet been taken about Hughes’ involvement in the 4x100m relay. The heats for that event get underway on Thursday.

Hamstring problems had already disrupted the athlete’s build-up to Paris, forcing him to miss the British Championships in June. He also skipped the European Championships, but was given a discretionary place for Paris after declaring himself fit.

But he was below his best on Sunday in the men’s 100m, only finishing sixth in his semi-final with a time of 10.01 seconds. And after the race, he admitted the injury had hampered him.

“It was just last month,” he said. “It’s not the easiest thing to come back from, especially what I had. I had a grade two tear on the outside of the hamstring, so obviously not getting me enough races to get me in race shape was my issue.”

Hughes had initially been billed as a medal contender in France, having won bronze at the World Championships in Budapest last year. But it’s thus far proved an underwhelming Games for the Anguilla-born star whose wait for an Olympic medal goes on.

In Tokyo he false-started in the 100m final, and wad duly disqualified. Hughes was then part of the Team GB that finished second to Italy in the 4x100m relay. However, the team were then stripped of their medals after CJ Ujah was found guilty of a doping violation.

The news compounds what has already proved to be a disappointing day in the athletics for Team GB. In the women’s pole vault, Molly Caudery suffered a shock early elimination after failing to clear 4.55metres three times.

In tears afterwards, Cauldrey told the BBC: “It’s honestly heartbreaking. Not the experience I was hoping for and I am so sorry for everyone back home.”