Athletes representing Great Britain in this weekend's Anniversary Games "are caught in a dispute between rival kit sponsors which could yet lead to withdrawals," according to Alex Spink of the London DAILY MIRROR. Although the London grand prix meeting is a Diamond League event, "official GB teams have been entered in the relay races, and athletes involved have received a letter from British Athletics instructing them to wear their Nike-sponsored GB team kit -- or suffer the consequences." The correspondence states, "Failure to wear the correct kit will result in you being withdrawn from the relay team at the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games (and therefore risking your selection in the relay for the IAAF World Championships)." The problem is that "a number of the athletes concerned have individual contracts with rival manufacturers." They are "obliged to wear that kit except when on international duty -- which their sponsors do not consider grand prix meetings to be." Dave Scott of management agency Stellar said, "The athletes are caught in the middle" (DAILY MIRROR, 7/22).
