Botswana athlete Isaac Makwala said he was forced to withdraw from his 200m heats at the Athletics World Championships on Monday, despite feeling like he could have competed.

A number of athletes at the World Championships have been laid low by stomach upsets with teams reporting cases of gastroenteritis at their official hotel.

Makwala said he feels heartbroken he was not allowed to race and hopes he will be allowed to run in the 400m final on Tuesday at 2050gmt.

“No, I was not that sick. I just vomited. I vomited when I got on the bus yesterday for my 200 (metre race) heats. The medicals saw me and asked me if I’m ok and I said ‘I’m not ok’, then they took me to the medical room then they put me there, some guy, some doctor he said he’s still looking for his medical team. I waited about 30 minutes and there was nothing.

“Then I went out, I just go to do my warm up for the 200. After the warm up I went to go to the crew room. I think they reported to the IAAF that I’m sick but without any test. They just said yes that I was sick because they saw me vomited but I told them I’m ok.

“If they say I couldn’t run, like I say, I would be heartbroken. Even now I’m not feeling ok to have bad news that I should not run,” Makwala said.

Makwala is among the favourites, along with world record holder South African Wayde van Niekirk, for the 400m title and would normally be scratched from the race after pulling out of another event.

As he missed the 200m heats on medical advice, however, he would be able to run, if otherwise fit.

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