Neef on one leg only in Madrid

Melanie Neef has dealt Britain's European Cup team another blow by pulling out of Saturday's 400 metres in Madrid. Neef, the winner of the event in Lille last year, has an Achilles problem and withdrew from two weekend meetings.

After physiotherapy yesterday, the 26-year-old runner from Glasgow decided to restrict herself to a leg of the 4x400m relay. Donna Fraser or Allison Curbishley will take over from Neef, who does not want to jeopardise her Olympic prospects.

She joins fellow internationals Mick Hill (javelin), Ann Griffiths (1500m) and Alison Wyeth (5,000m) in withdrawing. Britain also lost Tony Jarrett from the sprint relay squad and Iwan Thomas from the 4x400m line-up.