Tim Benjamin has withdrawn from the Olympics Games after failing to overcome a chronic sinus problem that has troubled him for much of the season. The Welsh 400 metres runner had surgery on his sinuses in February, but it has continued to effect his preparations for the event.

The 2004 Olympic semi-finalist opened his season in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic, with a below-par performance. He finished last, clearly indicating he was not in the best of health.

Benjamin withdrew from this weekend's Olympic trials and came to the decision to abandon his plans to compete in Beijing after consulting with the UK Athletics medical team.

"This is a very sensible decision for Tim to have made," Dave Collins, UK Athletics Performance Director, said. "He is an ambitious lad who wants to achieve at the highest level and is not happy just to settle for second best.

"The important thing now is for him to fully recuperate and get back to full health to enable him to have a good winter's training and to come back stronger for 2009.

"Our team of specialists will be working closely with Tim to help ensure he fulfills these aims."