Iwan Thomas could still travel as part of the 4x400 relay team

There was better news for former army sergeant Kelly Holmes, who, after an Achilles injury almost forced her into early retirement, was chosen for the 800m, after the selectors used their "exceptional circumstances" rule.

The British record-holder, who won her trial race at the weekend but missed the qualifying standard, joined eight other athletes given this exemption.

Achieving the required performance did not guarantee a team place however, as 5,000m runners Kristen Bowditch and Andrea Whitlock, along with discus thrower Perris Wilkins, found to their cost.

Mark Lewis-Francis - third in Saturday's 100m final but who, on Monday, said he did not wish to be considered for Olympic selection - has also not been included in the relay team.

As expected Jason Gardener, the European indoor 60m title-holder and fourth behind the 17-year-old star on Saturday, has been picked alongside Dwain Chambers and Darren Campbell as part of an excellent relay squad.

The selectors used the "exceptional circumstances" rule not only for Holmes but other athletes who have not achieved the British qualification standard this year but who have approached or bettered it last season.

Relief for Hughes

The most relieved man in the squad will be pole vaulter Kevin Hughes.

On Sunday, the Enfield man - who achieved his lifetime best of 5.61m last year - met the requisite standard of 5.60m but after protests from his rivals that he had held onto the bar to prevent it falling off, the 27-year-old was ordered to retake the attempt.

And after retaining his AAA title with a 5.50m height, Hughes vented his frustration on both his opponents and officials.

He insisted: "It's impossible to deliberately place the bar back when you're up in the air.

"The officials caved in to the other vaulters and the event was ruined by the protest. I felt good for a bigger height but I just had to sit around for half an hour in the rain while some official who doesn't know anything about the pole vault in the first place made a decision.

"I trained all year, it's been my life's dream to go to the Olympics and an official's decided at the last minute that he doesn't want me to go. It's a bit of a farce really."