Nick Symmonds has confirmed that he has been left out of the USA squad for this month's World Championships over a training kit row.
The 31-year-old has refused to sign a contract that requires athletes to wear clothing made by Nike in Beijing, who are the official uniform sponsor for USA Track and Field, as he has a contract with rival company Brooks Running.
"I don't think USATF is bluffing," Symmonds told AP. "I think they're dumb enough to leave me home.
"You just can't give a monopoly to a company and expect there to be a healthy, viable sport. It's never going to change unless someone makes a stand.
"It's unfortunate that's going to have to be me. It's unfortunate it might leave me off the team to Beijing. But it's time to wrestle some of our power back from USATF, because they've taken a lot of it."
Symmonds claimed silver in the 800m at the previous World Championships in Moscow.
Alex Meyers
