Dodsley's Olympic dream in tatters

British gymnast Amy Dodsley has suffered injury heartbreak after being forced to withdraw from the Olympic squad through a neck problem.

Cherrelle Fennell has been called into Team GB to replace the 17-year-old Dodsley, just eight days before the summer showpiece gets under way in Athens.

The British Olympic Association said the Nottingham-born artistic gymnast had suffered "a ligamentus injury to the neck."

Simon Clegg, the Chef de Mission for Team GB, said: "Injuries of this nature immediately before an Olympic Games are always a great disappointment to athlete and team alike.

"However, Amy is a young athlete and I am sure she will make every effort to achieve her Olympic dream in four years' time. Cherrelle is a more than able replacement and we wish her well in her final preparations."

Matthew Greenwood, team leader for the gymnastics squad at the Athens Games added: "This is a setback for the squad and very sad news for Amy as she was a key player in a British team that qualified for the Games.

"She will definitely be missed in Athens, but I have every confidence that Cherrelle will be able to step in and do a fine job for Team GB."

Dodsley competed at the 2003 World Championships in Anaheim - her first major event - and made a strong contribution to the British team's ninth place which gave them the right to participate at the Olympics with a full team.

Fennell, 17, was also a key part of the British team at the 2003 World Championships and the Manchester-born athlete was top scorer in the British team at the international meeting against Romania in May.