American Christian Taylor has claimed that Phillips Idowu still has a chance of winning the gold medal in the triple jump at this summer's Olympics.
Idowu pulled out of last weekend's London Grand Prix with a hip injury and many questions have been raised over the British athlete's fitness.
However, world champion Taylor refuses to dismiss Idowu as a genuine contender for the Olympic title.
Taylor said: "You can't discount Phillips. Absolutely not. This guy's been jumping for a long time, he's experienced, he's been here before.
"I have great respect for him, as I have for all the other competitors, so I don't count him out at all.
"Even if he hasn't competed he can cope. He's experienced, I'm new to the game. I've seen him jump many times through different elements, through it all, so I'm not counting him out one bit."
Idowu won a silver medal at the last Olympics in Beijing four years ago.
Callum Mulvihill
