Thomas blasts British selectors

European 400 metres champion Iwan Thomas has accused the selectors of lying to him before his omission from the British Olympic athletics team.

Thomas was left out of the team on Tuesday for next month's Sydney Games in favour of world indoor champion Jamie Baulch after opting out of last weekend's British trials in Birmingham because of a hamstring injury.

In a radio interview Thomas said he had been told he could miss the trials because a place would be left open for him until next Monday.

"I won't say the person's name but the conversation went like this: 'I will give you my word that we will not pick the third place runner until August 21'," Thomas said.

"I have been completely cheated. I feel lied to."

Thomas raced for the first time for more than a month in Malmo, Sweden, on Tuesday, finishing fourth in 45.82 seconds.

A spokeswoman for UK Athletics said on Wednesday Thomas had spoken to the technical director for sprints, hurdles and relays Graham Knight.

"He would have been told there was a possibility a place would be left open for him," she said. "He was never told that if he didn't run in the trials a place would be kept open. We can't do that."