Gardener has pulled out of the 100m in this weekend's Norwich Union AAA Championships - which double as the trials for Edmonton next month.
The withdrawal of the 'Bath bullet' is not unexpected.
A month ago in his first real test of the year, he pulled up half-way through the 100m at the Seville Grand Prix meeting.
Since then Gardener has accepted victory at the Worlds is an impossibility.
"There is no way I am fit enough to race this weekend," he said.
"I'm over the back injury but in Seville I suffered serious cramps in both my calf muscles.
"The injury has effectively ruined my season."
One of the most loyal members of the British squad, Gardener said: "If the selectors want to choose me for the 4x100m relay squad I'd be happy to help them out and go to the World Championships.
"But realistically I know I will not be going to Edmonton. Now I intend regaining full fitness and getting myself prepared for next year."
The news will impact on the ambitions of the British relay team who finished runners-up to the United States in Seville two years ago.
Without Darren Campbell - struggling to make the team because of a hamstring injury - and Gardener, they face an uphill task to unseat an American quartet anchored by Maurice Greene.