Virus scuppers relay dream for Campbell

The 31-year-old Mancunian became so ill "he could hardly breathe", according to a spokeswoman for his management company Nuff Respect. Campbell, who won Olympic gold with the British 4x100metres relay squad in Athens last summer and became embroiled in a row with American sprint legend Michael Johnson, has been admitted to a Welsh hospital.

He failed to reach the 100m final at the Norwich Union World Championship trials in Manchester at the weekend and withdrew from the 200m. However it was anticipated that he would be a member of the relay squad, after his heroics in Greece last summer.

Campbell sought advice from his doctor after struggling to swallow, and it was decided that hospital treatment was the only solution.