The Japan Association of Athletics Federations scratched long-distance runner Yu Mitsuya on Friday from the list of athletes who have been named for this summer's world championships after a review of its selection process.
The JAAF took the unusual step after receiving complaints from Terukazu Omori and officials of his team that the selection of Mitsuya, winner of the men's 10,000 meters at the recent national championships, ran counter to its policy.
Mitsuya won the national title in the discipline over runnerup Omori at the championships held earlier this month but has yet to meet the "A" qualifying standard of 27 minutes, 49 seconds this year. Omori, for his part, met the "A" standard in a meet held prior to the national meet.