Phillips Idowu's chances of winning an Olympic medal have been compromised by his Games preparation, GB athletics chief Charles van Commenee believes.
Van Commenee revealed that triple jumper Idowu has not seen or spoken to his coach Aston Moore for a fortnight.
He said: "I find it bizarre. Aston finds it bizarre. We have to deal with the situation as it is presented to us.
"First he has to show up, and we don't know when he will. When he shows up, where he sleeps, we have no idea."
Idowu, world champion in 2009, is one of Britain's big hopes for athletics gold. But he has not competed in two months and confusion has surrounded his fitness as the days have ticked away before London.
The participation of the 2008 silver medallist was called into doubt last week when he failed to attend a pre-Games training camp in Portugal, which led to the British Olympic Association requesting medical records for a reported nerve problem in the 33-year-old's hip and back.
Van Commenee said: "It's not good, obviously, because I know how important coaching is. That's the reason we go on camp, so athletes have 24/7 support staff.

Phillips Idowu

  • Age: 33
  • Personal best: 17.81m outdoors, 17.75m indoors
  • Achievements: Olympic silver medal (2008); world champion (2009); European champion (2010); European indoor champion (2007); Commonwealth gold (2006) & silver (2002)
"Phillips decided not to join and in my eyes that compromises his preparation.
"We will support him when that is needed, as we always have. UK Athletics has supported Phillips Idowu for about 12 years. Financially, a big part for that 12 years in terms of providing training and accommodation, camps, medical support, psychological support, biomechanical support. We have paid the salary of his coach - our coach.
"I'm perplexed really that in the last few weeks before the Games he turns his back on us."
Van Commenee and Idowu first fell out last summer when the triple jumper pulled out of the European Team championships. After a subsequent public row about Idowu's use of Twitter, the two have not spoken since.
The Dutchman said: "Phillips last saw Aston face to face about two weeks ago. That was the last session. Since then [he has only had] a few text messages."
When asked whether there was any indication at that final session that Idowu intended to go it alone, Van Commenee answered: "No.
"You are asking me to look into his head. That's a challenge. I find it difficult to look into people's heads anyway, and certainly Phillips's head."
That Moore and Idowu have not seen each other in two weeks is in part a function of the fact that Moore, as a UKA coach, was required to be on the team's training-camp. But there are rumours that the two have not worked together for much longer.
Idowu is believed to be getting training and medical support at a track in east London but has kept a minimal public profile since pulling out of the London Diamond League meet last month, moments before he was due to compete against world champion Christian Taylor.
Van Commenee, famous for his uncompromising approach added: "The sport is in a wonderful place. The team has not been as strong as this for a long time. And what do we do? We talk about the invisible man.
"Aston has been involved in sessions that he (Idowu) could not complete, because of injury. Secondly, I gave permission for him not to compete at the (GB Olympic) Trials, because of injury.
"I don't give these permissions lightly, because I would undermine the Trials. An athlete like Emma Jackson was hurt and still competed at the Trials. A number of athletes did, because the Trials are important.
"For him not competing at a number of meets where he was entered, and basically saying 'I'm injured' - then he's injured. The BOA tell me now he's not injured, so knowing the nature of the competitor he is, the great athlete, he still has a chance for the gold medal.
"We can go through all sorts of feelings and emotions, which is what I had to do. The BOA is bound to keep the information confidential - that's in the team agreement. Whether I like it or not is irrelevant."