DOUBLE Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes has been forced to pull out of next month’s World Championships in Helsinki through injury.

The 35-year-old’s Achilles problem flared up again after a race in Glasgow last month and she has conceded defeat in her attempts to be fit for the showpiece meeting of the year.

Her focus is now on her final competitive appearance at the British Grand Prix in Sheffield on August 21.

She said: "My physio and I have decided I need to stop pushing myself to recover.

"All my focus is now on racing in Sheffield and I am determined to run this race.

"It’s the most important thing for me at the moment and means more to me than any other race this season."

The Glasgow race has been Holmes’ only appearance on the track this season and, although she comfortably won the 1,500m, she was already suffering from the injury.