Time appears to have run out for McKee's Olympic ambitions

The world indoor bronze medallist from 2003 has done hardly any training in the past six weeks because of a virus.

And with the Olympic Council of Ireland's qualifying deadline looming on 3 July, he has now accepted that his Athens dream is almost certainly over.

"It's now a case of sacrificing this season and hoping that I can get fit again for next year," said McKee.

The Belfast man has been told not to train for another fortnight but even if he is able to resume workouts, time will have run out for the athlete.

The virus hit him just as he appeared to be shaking off a hamstring problem which had dogged him for a year.

"It's just so frustrating. I did a session on Monday of last week but I was completely wiped out after it and I've just got to accept that it's finished as far as this season is concerned.

"I suppose I am still holding out a bit of hope that we might make the relay which is a later qualification date but that's looking a bit of a long-shot after the recent attempts the boys have made at the qualifying time."

McKee's Irish record of 45.58 set in 2002 is only .03 outside the Olympic A standard but injury and illness have put paid to his chances of travelling to Athens.

At 26 year old, McKee can still have ambitions of competing in Beijing in 2008 but his immediate focus will be on shaking off the virus which has dogged him in recent months.

He will then aim to prepare for next year's World Championships in Helsinki.

Brizzel has already achieved the 200m Olympic qualifying time

Meanwhile, Olympic Games-bound Paul Brizzel is set to take on domestic rivals Gary Ryan and Paul Hession at the Dublin International Games on Friday.

The 200m race is shaping up at the highlight of the Santry meeting.

Ryan and Hession still have ambitions of getting the 200m Athens standard of 20.59 which Brizzel has achieved.

Asian 200m Champion Fawzi Al Shammari, who has a personal best of 20.38, and Britain's Dwayne Grant will also be in the race.

The 400m should see another good domestic battle with Rob Daly, David McCarthy and David McCarthy in the field while James Nolan will compete in the mile.

High jumper Adrian O'Dwyer will continue his search for the Olympic standard of 2.30 which is .02 beyond the Irish record which he achieved indoors earlier this year.

The women's 200m will see Ciara Sheehy taking on South Africa's Olympic 400m finalist Heide Seyerling and Karen Shinkins.

Russian 800m star Olga Raspopova will also be in action with her Irish rivals including Ulster athlete Kelly Reid.

Friday's meeting will be followed by the 14th Dublin International Grand Prix of Race Walking in the Phoenix Park on Sunday morning (0900 BST).

Ireland's Olympic medal hope Gillian O'Sullivan will miss the 20K event because of a minor injury concern.

The event will feature all of Australia's Olympic walking team including Commonwealth gold medallists Nathan Deakes and Jane Saville.

Ireland's Robert Heffernan, who recently recorded the second fastest time of his career with a 1:20.55 clocking in La Coruna 4 weeks ago, will be in action.

Doubling up as the Irish 20km Championships, Jamie Costin, who has achieved the Olympic standard for 50km will be hoping to gain his second A standard by improving his season's best of 1.23.08 by eight seconds.