AVIVA GRAND PRIX: Idowu insists withdrawal was just a precaution but injury concerns remain

Posted: Saturday 14th July 2012 | 17:01

PHILIPS Idowu spent the week telling anyone that would listen that there was no injury concerns ahead of the London 2012 Olympics - but then pulled out of the Aviva Grand Prix.

NOT WORRIED: British athlete is colourful and controversial in equal measure and he withdrew from the Aviva Grand Prix in London today (Getty Images)

Idowu, the world champion in 2009 and silver medallist last year, has competed just three times this season and was expected to take on American world triple jump champion Christian Taylor at Crystal Palace.

But he withdrew from the high-profile meeting, the last before the Games, with a hip problem.

It left a capacity crowd disappointed and was another Idowu related embarrassment for organisers, following his withdrawal from the Olympic trials in Birmingham last month.

Although he later insisted there was no major worry, telling his Twitter followers: "Sorry to have to pull out, slight bit of muscle tightness. I will be fine in a day or two."

But Idowu now hasn't competed since early June, hardly ideal preparation, with his best leap this season just 17.05 metres, well down on his 17.81m personal best.

Idowu's form, no matter his protestations, is a major worry but there are no doubts about Goldie Sayer's condition.

The ten-time national javelin champion unleashed a British record 66.17 metres to beat world record holder Barbora Spotakova and give her Olympic credentials a major boost.

Sayers was fourth in Beijing four years ago and also just missed out on the podium at the recent European Championship in Helsinki and her first round effort moves her to fourth in the current world rankings.

"Personal bests don't come around very often, and it's almost four years to the day until the last one," said Sayers.

"I still feel there is more in there but this was a good day at the office."

Olympic champion Ohuruogu beat world champion Amantle Montsho in a strong women's 400m field, defying the appalling to conditions to clock 50.42 seconds while British team-mate Shana Cox was seventh.

"I'm happy to get a win and have that in the run up to the Olympics - it's what I needed for confidence," said Ohuruogu. "The conditions were bad but I won and I'm in one piece, that's the important thing."

Elsewhere, Great Britain's Yamile Aldama finished third in the women's triple jump, which was won by Colombia's Catherine Ibarguen, while European champion Robbie Grabarz settled for second in a high jump competition claimed by Canada's Derek Drouin.

Andrew Osagie placed third in a high-class 800m won by Poland's Adam Kszczot while Daniel Talbot, not selected for the individual 200m at the Olympics, finished third ahead of both Christian Malcolm and James Ellington, who were chosen.

And Great Britain's Nigel Levine, Martyn Rooney and Conrad Williams finished fourth, sixth and eighth in the 400m, which was won by Grenada's James Kirani.

But Tiffany Porter limped off the track in tears after picking up a back injury in the 100m hurdles heats to leave British team officials fearing the worst.

But the world finalist insists she'll be fully fit for the Olympics.