EILIDH Doyle has ruled out defending her European title in Amsterdam next month – admitting it’s Rio or bust this summer.
The 29-year-old will aim to maintain her lead at the top of the Diamond League stakes in tonight’s Golden Gala in Rome after opening up with victory in Doha three weeks ago.
After a two-week training camp in Tenerife, Doyle will get a re-match with Commonwealth champion Kaliese Spencer and American rival Cassie Tate in the Italian capital.
But with everything geared towards challenging for a medal in August’s Olympic Games, waving goodbye to the championship she landed in Zurich two years ago has been deemed a necessary sacrifice by the Scot and her coach Malcolm Arnold.
“I’ve thought long and hard about it,” Doyle said. “I’ve sat down with Malcolm to talk about it. I’d originally assumed it was the same as 2012 – if you were selected for the Olympics, you didn’t go to Europeans. So I had it in my head that door was shut.
“But then I was asked if I wanted to defend it. I thought for a long time that I’d love to do that. Malcolm told me to look at the bigger picture, which this year is the Olympics. I know that is the answer. But there is that part of me that feels an athlete should defend their title. I know though that it is all about Rio.”
Lynsey Sharp, who was fifth in her Diamond League opener in Rabat last week, faces world champion Marina Arzamasova and rankings leader Caster Semenya in the 800m in Rome. While Edinburgh AC club-mate Chris O’Hare gets a world-class test in the 1500m.
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