Athletics: World Cup sprint is race too far for Montgomery

Tim Montgomery might yet face Dwain Chambers in La Comunidad Stadium here in Spain's capital city tomorrow night, but it will not be in the showpiece 100m race at the end-of-season IAAF World Cup. If the new 100m world record holder runs for the United States in the quadrennial global team competition, it will be in the 4x100m relay only.

Montgomery's agent, Charlie Wells, announced last night that his high-speed charge had withdrawn from the individual 100m because his body was still suffering from the toll of pushing to a new human speed limit with a world-record 9.78sec run in Paris last Saturday.

"He's definitely not running the 100m," Wells said. "He has not recovered from the world record last weekend. There's a possibility he might try to run a leg of the 4x100m relay. We will know more tomorrow.''

Montgomery said: "My feet and my knees are swollen from striking the ground so hard. I've taken a lot of ice baths to try to get healthy. Mentally I feel good. I just have swelling in my knees and feet; my hamstrings are a little tight too.''

The decision was taken after the 27-year-old American undertook a light training session yesterday under the supervision of his coach, Trevor Graham. It will come as a huge disappointment to the organisers and Madrid public, whose clamour to see the world's fastest man caused a breakdown of the ticket hot-line on Monday. Such was the demand for tickets, temporary seating for an extra 7,000 spectators has been added to the sold-out 21,000-seat capacity arena.

Montgomery having been directly responsible for drawing additional revenue, it would have been only natural if, behind the scenes, his camp had been seeking some reward for his appearance. This was, after all, their last chance to exploit his new status before the season's end. Officially, though, all that is on offer at the World Cup is prize money of $30,000 (£19,000) for a victory in each event.

Montgomery's absence from the individual 100m will, of course, increase Chambers' chances of a first-prize pay day, not that the captain of the British men's team was getting excited as the doubts emerged about his rival's participation.

"It doesn't really matter to me if he runs or not," Chambers said. "I'm here to win."