Hansen out of World Champs

Hansen reclaimed her indoor world title in March

Britain's Ashia Hansen has been forced to pull out of this month's World Athletics Championships after aggravating an Achilles injury.

Announcing her decision, the Birchfield Harrier insisted she would now concentrate all her efforts on next year's Olympics in Athens.

She said: "It was an incredibly difficult decision but now that I have made it I feel relieved, and can focus all my efforts on returning to peak condition in preparation for the Olympics next year."

Hansen was one of Britain's best prospects for a medal, having won the European and Commonwealth titles last year.

She also won the world indoor title in her hometown of Birmingham this year, but had not competed since March because of injury.

It is another blow for the British team, which is one of the smallest in recent years.