“Representing your nation is a privilege, and in athletics is earned through a qualifying course of, which whereas not all the time excellent, provides everybody the identical probabilities to achieve choice,” Connor wrote.
“Coming from a working class background I do not just like the potential precedent being set the place folks, particularly junior athletes of the long run, haven’t got the identical growth or competitors alternatives due to funds.
“I want there was extra transparency and honesty concerning the state of our governing our bodies funds and about how our sport is being managed for this to be the place.”
In an announcement, UK Athletics (UKA) stated the charge is prone to be beneath £500 and that athletes had been conscious of the fee when expressing an curiosity in competing.
It added that as extra competitions get added to the calendar it’s “unattainable” to fund all groups.
“Upon choice athletes had been additionally suggested that the sooner ‘most contribution quantity’ of £1,100, was prone to be beneath £500 and in some circumstances across the £2-250 mark with an additional contribution from their dwelling nation athletics organisation,” the assertion learn.
“UKA feels it’s higher to provide athletes alternative to compete than choose to not ship groups in any respect.”
World 1500m silver medallist and now commentator Hannah England says the thought of athletes being priced out of competing is “actually worrying and unhappy” however there may be simply not sufficient cash to go round.
“£20m of UK Sport funding goes to UK Athletics and it then asks athletes to pay to compete. That doesn’t appear like a great narrative,” England instructed BBC 5 Reside Breakfast.
“However that funding is audited and has to go in direction of producing Olympic medals. This can be a new championship so there isn’t a precedent for Olympians coming from that occasion.
“So it’s both ask folks to contribute or they do not ship a staff. And that’s actually laborious for folks to abdomen.”
The Championships are one among plenty of occasions wherein UK Athletics is asking for a contribution, with as much as £200 listed for July’s European Below-23 Championships in Bergen.
Within the coverage for that occasion, UK Athletics says: “We recognise that the monetary dedication related can current challenges for some athletes. To handle this, the UKA Efficiency Pathway staff is dedicated to working intently with athletes dealing with monetary hardship to discover options that allow their involvement.”