Edwards joins John Maycock, Christian Malcolm and Ashia Hansen, who have all come out in support of this summer's European Championships offering prize money.

Edwards won �40,000 along with his world title in Edmonton last summer.

Instead he will run the Chicago and London marathons and apply to run the 10,000 metres at the Commonwealth Games and European Championships instead.

Edwards said: "I think if the money is there then there should be payments.

"It is an era of professional athletics, and I think it's perfectly reasonable that the European Championships should pay money.

"After all, it is a product they are selling. It is the athletes who are providing it, and they should share in the profits." Edwards' says he sympathises with the likes of Steinle.

"There is the issue of supporting your country," Edwards added.

"But if he's that good then they should be saying 'we want you to run in the European Championships'."