Ohuruogu absent from Euro team

Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu was the biggest absentee from the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team for the European Championships which was announced on Tuesday.

Ohuruogu, who won 400metres gold at the World Championships in Osaka in 2007 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008, has been suffering from a quad injury and missed the recent trials in Birmingham.

The 26-year-old Londoner had already announced she would miss Wednesday's Super8 event in Glasgow and the British Grand Prix in Gateshead on July 10, with the European Championships in Barcelona getting under way on July 27.

Speaking about the injury at the trials, Ohuruogu said: "Initially we thought it was not serious but now it seems more serious and I will be out for the next few weeks. I am preparing for the rest of the season as well as I can despite the setback. I am remaining positive and keeping my head focused."

Nicola Sanders, who was pipped to gold by Ohuruogu in Osaka, has also been hampered by injuries and is only selected for the 4x400m relay, with Lee McConnell running the individual event.

Veteran sprinter Christian Malcolm, 31, has been selected for the 200m, with promising youngster James Dasaolu, 22, joining Dwain Chambers in the 100m.

Mo Farah and Chris Thompson have both been selected for the 5,000 and 10,000m, with the 10,000m being a straight final on the opening day of competition.

Britain look to have numerous medal prospects in Barcelona, with William Sharman and Andy Turner chasing a one-two in the 110m hurdles and Dai Greene ranked number one in Europe in the 400m hurdles.

Martyn Rooney has twice broken 45 seconds over 400m to top the European rankings, while world champion Phillips Idowu will be looking to add to his medal collection in the triple jump.

Double world champion Jessica Ennis is also favourite to claim a first European title in the heptathlon, with fellow Berlin medallists Jenny Meadows (800m) and Lisa Dobriskey (1,500m) also expected to claim places on the podium.