Distance runner says he has turned down the chance to compete for Great Britain at the European Running Championships

Ben Connor, who competed at the Tokyo Olympics, has rejected the chance to represent Great Britain at next week’s European Running Championships in Leuven, Belgium (April 11-13).

The Brit was picked by UK Athletics to race in the half-marathon but declined his selection after the governing body asked athletes for a fee of up to £1100 to cover things like travel, accommodation, food, kit and staff.

Connor, on his Instagram, stated that “England Athletics had offered to subsidise their athletes”, with UK Athletics adding that the fee “was likely to be under £500”.

However, the 32-year-old, who is seventh on the UK all-time half-marathon list with 60:55, said that the national governing body was still asking for a “significant athlete contribution” and that he felt “it is wrong”.

“After a really tough few years and having previously represented Great Britain at every level across road, track and cross-country – starting as a junior right through to the Olympics in Tokyo – I was looking forward to pulling on another GB vest,” Connor said.

“Unfortunately I have declined my selection for the European Running Championships – I’m healthy and back in full training post Seville [Marathon] and have a few races in the diary starting this weekend in Ireland, but I wanted to give clarity as to why I have declined selection…

“UK Athletics are asking for a significant athlete contribution, which up until a few days ago was an unknown amount and although England Athletics have offered to subsidise this for their athletes, to which I’m sure many are grateful for, I feel it is wrong.

“Representing your country is a privilege and in athletics, it’s earned via a qualifying process, which whilst not always perfect, gives everyone the same chances to gain selection.

“Representing Great Britain shouldn’t come down to who can or cannot afford to pay for it. Coming from a working class background I don’t like the potential precedence being set where people, especially junior athletes of the future don’t have the same development or competition opportunities because of finances.

“Running (especially road) is the highest mass participation sport in the UK and we are asking our best to pay to represent this country on an international stage. I wish there was more transparency and honesty regarding the state of our governing bodies finances and about how our sport is being managed for this to be the position.”

UK Athletics state that “athletes had to provide an expression of interest for selection” and that “we would not seek to select anyone that wasn’t aware of this requirement [maximum athlete contribution]”.

The national governing body added that as more competitions get added to the calendar it is “impossible” to fund all teams, pointing to the fact that “a number of other Olympic sports have similar models whereby competition outside the major senior championships is self-funded”.

The selection policy for the European Running Championships was published on July 22 and then amended on December 11, 2024.

UK Athletics is also asking athletes to contribute up to £200 to compete at this summer’s European Under-23 Championships in Bergen, Norway.

The British Milers Club announced on March 10 that they will “cover the cost of self-contribution” for athletes that were “a paid up member of the BMC who achieved selection via a qualifying time at a BMC meeting”.