PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

DARREL BROWN is not among the 11 athletes selected to wear Trinidad and Tobago colours at the August 25 to September 2 IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Osaka, Japan.

The National Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA) omitted the T&T track star from the team after he failed to show up for a fitness test at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, on Friday.

Brown had sustained a foot injury, forcing him to withdraw from last month's Pan Am Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

NAAA secretary Alan Baboolal told the Sunday Express that as a result of the injury, the 2003 World Championship 100-metre silver medallist was required to undergo Friday's fitness test or prove his fitness in competition.

"Darrel did not show up for the fitness test and did not compete abroad since the injury, so he has not been included for Osaka.

Unreasonable

"We spoke to Darrel's agent Paul Doyle," Baboolal continued, "and let him know that the position of the executive is the same as when we first sent out a letter following the injury - that he must pass the fitness test or compete before August 10."

Doyle said this past weekend that it was not practical for Brown, who is currently in Italy, to return to Trinidad for the fitness test.

"I was only notified that he was supposed to show up for Friday's fitness test on Friday, but they said they notified the coach (Stephen Francis) more than 10 days ago. To be honest, to go all the way back to Trinidad would have been unreasonable. Darrel already lost a week of training when he went home to prove he was injured for the Pan Am Games."

Doyle said that while Brown is "not ready to race right now," he is confident the 22-year-old sprinter would have been fit in time to face the starter in Osaka, on August 25.

"It's not a stress fracture, but it's responding like a stress fracture. He has strained ligaments within his right foot. Darrel is getting laser treatment in Italy, and is able to put pressure on the foot now.

"I'm not happy," Doyle continued, "with the decision to omit him. There was no real reason to not give him a shot. They (NAAA) may think it's a long shot, but we think there's a 50/50 chance he'd be ready to do well ... there's a chance he could be a medallist. I don't see why not."