Max Whitlock has been forced to pull out of the Great Britain squad for the upcoming European Artistic Gymnastics Championships with injury.
The 30-year-old returned to the competition floor for the first time since Tokyo 2020 at the British Championships last month, finishing seventh in the men's pommel horse final owing to a couple of errors.
Whitlock was due to make his international comeback in Antalya for next week's European Championships, but on Thursday night, he announced that a "minor injury" would prevent him adding to his continental medal collection.
Adam Tobin, who was crowned all-around champion at the British Championships in March, has been called up to replace Whitlock.
"I'm gutted to announce that I won't be able to participate in the upcoming Europeans due to a minor injury that occurred this week," Whitlock said on social media.
"Although it's unfortunate timing, I've experienced many obstacles throughout my career, and this setback will only motivate me to continue pushing forward on my path to Paris.
"I'm grateful and can take a lot of confidence for the success I've had in returning to competitions, particularly matching scores achieved just before Tokyo Olympics I wish a huge good luck to the team and looking forward to watching and supporting."
Whitlock has won eight European medals during his esteemed career, including the floor title in 2013 and two pommel horse crowns in 2014 and 2019, and he joins fellow world champions Joe Fraser and Giarnni Regini-Moran as GB's notable injury absentees.
Tobin links up with Courtney Tulloch, Jake Jarman, Joshua Nathan, Luke Whitehouse and Harry Hepworth in the GB men's team, while Jessica Gadirova, Ondine Achampong, Alice Kinsella, Georgia-Mae Fenton and Becky Downie form the women's contingent.
Ben Knapton
