England-based sprinter Imranur Rahman will not be considered to represent Bangladesh in international competitions until he proves himself in a special trial.

Imranur withdrew himself from the 48th National Athletics Championships, beginning on Monday at the National Stadium in Paltan, and the Bangladesh Athletics Federation (BAF) said that athletes from the National Athletics Championship will be considered for the upcoming international events.

"We have decided that we will select those athletes who will participate in the National Athletics Championship for the international meet," said BAF general secretary Shah Alam at a press conference at National Stadium yesterday.

Imranur won gold in 100m sprint four times for Bangladesh Army in the National Athletics Championship since making his debut in 2022. Since then, he represented Bangladesh in different international competitions such as the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships, and Asian Indoor Games. He also won gold in 60m sprint in the Asian Indoor Games in 2023.

Imranur, who recently underwent major surgery, also withdrew himself from the upcoming World Indoor Athletics Championships, scheduled to take place in Nanjing, China from March 21 to 23.

"Everything will be decided on the basis of the athletes' performance in the national championships. As he [Imranur] is not participating in the National Athletics Championships, we consider him sick or unable. So, how we can guess he will be able to compete in the World Indoor Athletics Championships," added Alam.

Alam also informed that if Imranur recovers within the next six months, he would have to go through a trial to be selected to represent Bangladesh at the international level.

It was also relayed in the presser that only 402 participants from 35 teams have sent their entries for the National Athletics Championships -- a major dip from the last edition in which around 550 athletes from 63 teams participated.

Asked the reasons behind the fewer participants in the championships, Alam said, "We have 64 districts and eight divisions where there are no committees in many districts and divisions. We have sent letters several times but they informed us that they don't have committees, that's why many teams did not send entries."

Around 12-15 teams out of the 35 participating in the 48th National Athletics Championship are from districts and division sports associations, informed Alam, hoping for the number to increase in the coming years.