UNITED Kingdom Athletics (UKA) head coach, Charles van Commenee, said he was perplexed by the 'bizarre' decision of triple-jumper Phillips Idowu to turn his back on his own coach ahead of the London Olympics.Idowu, who is suffering from a trapped nerve, opted to arrange his own treatment in London rather than attend UKA's training camp in Portugal, even though his coach, Aston Moore, was there, along with the governing body's medical experts.And though Van Commenee has been informed by the British Olympic Association (BOA) that Idowu would be fit for triple jump qualifier on August 7, the Dutchman said he has no idea what the Beijing silver medallist was doing.'Up until about two weeks ago, Aston Moore was in regular contact and had seen him in training a number of times, but that contact died,' said Van Commenee, who has not spoken to Idowu since a row last year over the 33-year-old's withdrawal from the European Team Championships.'(He had) a brief text message about a week ago and that was it. Phillips decided not to join the team (in Portugal) and by definition in my eyes he compromises his preparation. I find it bizarre. Aston finds it bizarre.'He's under the wing of the BOA at the moment and we'll support when that's needed, like we always have. UK Athletics has supported Phillips Idowu for about 12 years, financially for a big part of those 12 years in terms of providing training accommodation, camps, medical support, psychological support, biomechanical support and coaching support.'We pay the salary of his coach, our coach, so I'm perplexed that the last two weeks before the Games he turns his back on us, and I've got no idea why. All information we have about Phillips is now coming from the BOA. That information is that he's fit and ready to go.'He had to hand in medical information. The BOA decided not to take it to the next stage, which would be a fitness test. Therefore Phillips Idowu is fit to compete and probably in great shape, because that's the sort of athlete he is. I'm sure he'll be a medal contender.'Van Commenee insisted that Idowu would still be able to work with Moore if he wants to, adding: 'If he was to be seen I will make Aston available. But first he has to show up. And we don't know when he's going to show up, if he shows up, where he sleeps.'Asked if a bed would be available for him in the athletes' village, but perhaps at the end of a corridor, Van Commenee joked: 'Don't give me ideas!
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