Martyn Rooney blasts British athletics chiefs for refusing to let him defend his European title
Runner told to forget winning another European gold after his triumph in Zurich two years ago and focus soley on Olympics
MARTYN ROONEY has blasted British athletics chiefs for refusing to let him defend his European 400m title in June.
Rooney, one of the most senior athletes in the British team, had wanted to race at the Euros in Amsterdam which kick off on July 6 as part of his warm up for the Rio Olympics five weeks later.
But he has been told to forget winning another European gold after his triumph in Zurich two years ago - and instead focus soley on the Rio Games.
Rooney, 29, whose coach Rana Reider is also based in Holland, said: "I specifically wanted to go to Amsterdam but they said I'm not allowed to.
"It's my title. You don't get many opportunities to win Championships especially when guys are running 43 [secs] low these days. The Europeans would be really fun, a good race.
"Pavel Maslak, who won the world indoors this year, will be there and a couple of guys running 44 [secs] high.
"It's going to be a really good champs and obviously my coach is based out there so I could get some quality time with him."
Four years ago Mo Farah competed at the Europeans - defending his 5,000m title just days before his London 2012 double triumph.
Rooney clinched world 4x400m bronze in Beijing last summer - missing the birth of his first child back home in Britain - having had to win an appeal for the individual one-lap after he was initially left out of the team for China.
He went on to post a personal best of 44.45secs in the semi-finals at the Bird's Nest Stadium but failed to reach the showdown.
He said: "Rana did a request for our whole training group but because we have three rounds at the British trials for the Olympics at the end of June I was the only one not allowed to go to Amsterdam.
"I understand it would mean a lot of racing but we don't need three rounds at the trials. Two would suffice. If I run 46secs high in the heats what's the point?
"If you want to get to world championship standard you need guys to get two really solid races back-to-back and then they have an opportunity of making a final.
"Athletes were allowed to do it before London 2012 and the Euros were even closer then.
"It would be six races in 11 days or something with the trials and the Euros and I understand from that point of view but Rana and I worked out that we could do it.
"But British Athletics are focusing on the Olympics and that's their main goal."