Turnbull refuses European Cross-Country Championships selection

Gareth Turnbull will be concentrating on the indoor season after refusing to be selected for the Irish team to compete in next week's European Cross-Country Championships in Milan.

The Belfast athlete, who came second in last week's inter-county version of the Irish Championships in West Waterford, is looking to the Irish Sports Council to recoup his €100,000 costs needed to clear his name on a doping charge.

Turnbull is claiming he didn’t get the support he needed.

Injury has ruled out Alastair Cragg from the Irish team which includes veteran Seamus Power as Irish champion Mark Christie elected to run in the under-23 race.