Berlin, Sept 06:Tim Montgomery has pulled out of a reunion with Britain's European champion Dwain Chambers at Friday's Golden League meeting in Berlin. The world silver medalist, who clocked 9.91secs in winning in Brussels last week, withdrew from the event on Thursday.
It is believed the in-form American has fallen out with the Brussels organisers over the vexed issue of appearance money. An organisers' spokesman confirmed: "Montgomery is not running the 100m and will not be here.
"People have been asking why. I don't know - and neither does Askahn Brehm, the athletes' liaison manager."
Chambers' manager John Regis is less surprised by the turn of events.
"I think he's [Montgomery] getting himself ready for next week's Grand Prix final," Regis said. "There's no other reason for not being in Berlin.
"He's qualified for the final [in Paris] and he'll want to be at his best. It's an important meeting."
Montgomery and compatriot Maurice Greene both lost to Chambers at Crystal Palace a fortnight ago.
Greene then lost for the fifth time in nine races last week, but Chambers is not writing off the world and Olympic champion.
Bureau Report