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Ohuruogu crashes out

END OF THE WORLD: Christine Ohuruogu

CHRISTINE OHURUOGU’S World Championship bid came to a dramatic end when she was disqualified during the 400m heats.

The Olympic champion, 27, who has been struggling with injury all season, was dismissed after making a false start; Ohuruogu came out of her blocks way ahead of any of her rivals.

The East Londoner admitted her guilt immediately afterwards: "I knew it was me straight away. I can't believe it. I just wanted to get a good start as I knew it was going to be a fast round.

"What do you want me to say? I false-started. People can see for themselves. I've just wasted all that hard work, it's just wasted.

She added: "Of all the people it could happen to it had to be me. I'm the slowest starter, it's so ironic.

"I worked really hard to turn the last three weeks around and I am upset for my coach who worked really hard to get me in shape."

Ohuruogu had been in poor form all summer after a long spell out with a quadriceps injury and had finished last in her previous race in the Diamond League in Crystal Palace.

But having banked on coming into form late in the day, just as she had in taking the world title in Osaka four years ago, her quest to regain her world crown is over before it has truly begun.

Under the new false-start regulations brought in by the IAAF at the start of 2010, she was allowed no warning nor second chance and was shown a red card by officials before being ushered off the track in a state of shock.

Ohuruogu will now look to bounce back in the 4x400m relay later in the championships.

The other 400m gold medal contenders Allyson Felix, Sanya Richards-Ross and Amantle Monsho all progressed comfortably.