The U.S.’ preeminent 800m runners are not going to the World Track and Field Championships for vastly different reasons.
Nick Symmonds, the 2013 World silver medalist, has been left off the U.S. team for the Beijing meet (Aug. 22-30) following a dispute over a contract requiring athletes to wear Nike-branded Team USA gear at team functions.
Ajee Wilson, the third-fastest female 800m runner in the world this year, is out due to injury, according to a tweet from her agent’s account.
Symmonds, the U.S. champion who is not sponsored by Nike, said Thursday he would not sign the contract and would sue USA Track and Field if it left him off the team, according to Sports Business Daily.