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Simpson ready to go it alone after losing funding battle

Jemma Simpson admits she is 'gutted' to have lost her funding © Getty Images

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Jemma Simpson has admitted defeat and dropped her fight to have her lottery funding reinstated.

Despite being the fastest 800m runner in Britain last year, Simpson, 27, was stripped of her funding last month. UK Athletics Head Coach Charles van Commenee had agreed to reassess her case after Simpson cited injury problems and highlighted the fact that most middle distance runners peak after reaching 28.

But she has opted against taking her case to an independent panel for fears a lengthy battle would jeopardise her preparations for London 2012.

"I am obviously gutted," Simpson said. "Having seen the minutes from the meeting, I am still of the opinion that my case wasn't looked into with much depth or thorough analysis from experts in endurance running."

Simpson, who finished fifth at last year's European Championships, feels hard done by, but she has taken heart from the success of hurdler Andy Turner, who bounced back from having his funding cut to win European and Commonwealth gold last year, and bronze at this summer's World Championships.

"The last big public case similar to this was that of Andy Turner," she said. "Andy was removed from the UKA funding programme after failing to make the Olympic final in 2008, only to come back and win a Commonwealth medal, a European medal and this year, a world medal in the 110m hurdles.

"Things could go beautifully well or drastically wrong. It's the fine line we are balancing in this sport. I cannot control people's opinions, but I will continue to train hard and be the best I can be, with or without support from my national governing body."

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