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Video interview: Charlotte Purdue explains why British Athletics “threw her under the bus”

Charlotte Purdue, Britain's second-fastest marathon runner, tells Athletics Illustrated that the British Athletics medical team told her to not run the British Tokyo Olympic Games as they were preparing her to be fit for the Tokyo Olympic Games Trials. Then British Athletics choose three other athletes to the team, two of whom are slower, She also claims that British Athletics prevented her from speaking to the media, a lawyer and gave her just 24 hours to appeal their decision. Meanwhile, they have allowed themselves five business days to explain their decision.

Christopher Kelsall

April 9, 2021

Charlotte Purdue explains why she feels that she was thrown under the bus by British Athletics. British Athletics medical staff had told her to not compete at the Tokyo Olympic Marathon Trials, yet decided not to select her to the team, despite also having a medical exemption.

She has the second-fastest time within the qualification window.

Purdue ran 2:25:38. She is the fourth-fastest British marathon runner all-time.

Apparently, British Athletics (BA) staff had said during the appeal that Purdue was only training 30-minutes at a time, however, her coach, Nic Bideau, notified BA one week in advance of selection that she was back running more than 80-miles (130-plus kms) per week.

“I did everything that they asked me to do including six weeks of rehab, which I wouldn’t have normally done.”

She had a stress reaction in her femur. Purdue explains that the latest imaging of the femur shows that she is fully recovered.

Additionally, Bideau had asked British Athletics why they would be announcing the team hours prior to the appeal by Purdue.

She will find out on Tuesday, April 13 the reasons why she was not selected.