BBC SPORT | Athletics | Holmes pulls out

Britain's Kelly Holmes has pulled out of the 800m at Friday's Norwich Union Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.

Holmes had been due to face Jolanda Ceplak, who beat her into third at the European Championships in Munich earlier this month.

The Briton sparked controversy after the race when she appeared to question the manner of the Slovenian's runaway victory, saying that she herself had run "clean".

Ceplak demanded an apology but Holmes said that she had not been accusing her rival of any wrongdoing.

Robert Wagner, who manages both athletes, said that Holmes' withdrawal was because she was not 100% fit.

Tim Montgomery
Montgomery is oozing confidence

"This is nothing to do with what was said in Munich," said Wagner.

"Kelly has had a blood test after being concerned with her performance in Glasgow last Sunday.

"Kelly always loves running in front of British crowds and is obviously disappointed she will miss this evening's meeting," he added.

"But there is no way she would have competed unless she could have done full justice to herself and rewarded the spectators with a top performance."

There are no such fitness worries for US sprint star Tim Montgomery, who is planning to dominate the 100m at Friday's Norwich Union Grand Prix meeting at Crystal Palace.

The fastest man in the world this year believes he can repeat last week's victory over Dwain Chambers and Maurice Greene.

Montgomery ran 9.93 in the heats during the Zurich meeting and is confident he can produce similar form in London.

Read Greene's exclusive guide to sprinting

He said: "I'm quite happy for Maurice and Dwain to talk up their clash and be the centre of attraction.

"But don't forget about me. I showed in Zurich I can beat the best in the world and I'll be raring for them all at the Norwich Union Grand Prix."

The women's sprint promises to be equally as exciting.

Marion Jones has told the BBC she is ready to run the fastest time of the year to beat world champion Zhanna Pintusevich-Block.

I'm ready to run 10.70 so I think I have a good chance of winning the race

Marion Jones

US Olympic champion Jones is out for revenge over Ukrainian Pintusevich-Block, who beat her to win the world title in Edmonton last year.

"It's going to be a wonderful race. I'm pumped up and ready to go. I really think I'm ready to drop a fast time," Jones told BBC Five Live.

"I'm ready to run 10.70 so I think I have a good chance of winning the race."

Jones, who has won 54 of her last 55 100m finals - the statistical blot occurring in Edmonton - admits to still being stunned by her defeat at the hands of the Ukrainian.

Jones tastes shock defeat

She said: "I was shocked when I lost to her as I hadn't lost in the 100m for a number of years.

"Not to take anything away from her performance, but I wasn't the same Marion of old last year.

"But I think that's the sign of a true competitor when something like that can happen and they can rebound from it and get refocused and win races.

"I know she's run the fastest time in the world, she knows I'm capable of running fast and on Friday we'll just let the race speak for itself."


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