Apeldoorn, Netherlands, Oct 22, 2011 (AFP) – Britain’s four-time Olympic
Games gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy was forced to withdraw from the European
Track Championships on Saturday with a chest infection, shortly after
competing in sprint qualifying.

Hoy, who entered the competition in fine form after a hat-trick of wins at
the National Track Championships, had also competed in the men’s team sprint on
Friday.

“He got up this morning, he hasn’t been feeling too well. He warmed up, was
a bit dizzy, got through qualifying but he wasn’t right and after an
examination with the doctor we have decided to withdraw him,” said team
performance manager Shane Sutton.

France’s Kevin Sireau went on to win the individual sprint title beating
Germany’s Maximilian Levy 2-0 in the final. Denis Dmitriev of Russia claimed
third place.

In the women’s event, Lyubov Shulika of Ukraine defeated Belarusian Olga
Panarina.