Lewis pulled out of the World Athletics Championships just before they were due to begin after complaining of a mystery stomach bug.

"I read between the lines in some articles that there is some doubt as to whether she is ill and whether this is the whole story," said Lewis' coach, Charles van Commenee.

"They think there must be something else, or a second agenda. But that is the opinion of a few people in the press, it is not how Denise or I feel."

Heptathlete Lewis had earlier admitted post-Sydney celebrations have played a part in her missing Edmonton.

She told team bosses that she delayed her return to training too long after her Olympic triumph last September.

British team chief Max Jones said: "Denise said to me this morning that if she had started back two or three weeks earlier, it would have been a completely different situation."

But Van Commenee says Lewis was not able to go straight back into intensive training.