Christine Ohuruogu could miss next month’s World Athletics Championships in London after failing to qualify for the women’s 400m final at the British trials in Birmingham.

The 33-year-old former Olympic champion finished third in her heat in a time of 54.41 seconds, raising doubts over her ability to continue performing at the highest level.

The top two finishers this weekend will qualify automatically for London provided they meet the qualification time, with a third place granted at the discretion of the selectors.

But Ohuruogu, also a former double world champion, was so far adrift it would appear her best chance of figuring in London will be as part of the women’s relay squad.

Ohuruogu had reversed an earlier retirement decision after last year’s Rio Olympics, but indicated she would cut down her training regime as she targeted a place in London.

Her disappointment comes two weeks after the news that she is set to become Britain’s most decorated world medallist due to Russian athlete Anastasiya Kapachinskaya failing a drugs test.

The announcement is likely to result in Ohuruogu being given relay bronze for both the 2009 and 2011 World Championships, enabling her to move two clear of Mo Farah with eight career world medals to her name.

Culled from Mail