LONG-distance runner Tony Wamulwa has been ruled out of the Zambian contingent for the London 2012 Olympic Games that kick off on July 28 to August 12 after sustaining a fractured ankle in a road traffic accident at the weekend.

And national women 100m champion Chauness Choosha has earned a wildcard to enable her compete at the London Olympic Games.

Wamulwa, in the company of other army recruits on their way to Kabwe when the accident occurred, sustained a fractured ankle and is currently admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.

Sports Deputy Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu visited Wamulwa while Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili was expected to check on the athlete later in the evening.

National Olympic Committee (NOC) president Miriam Moyo said in an interview yesterday that Wamulwa, who was supposed to leave for a training camp in Scotland today, had been ruled out due to the injury sustained during a road traffic accident on Saturday night on the Great North Road.

Moyo said it was sad that Wamulwa, a 5,000-metre specialist, would not be among the athletes going for the Olympic Games after working hard to earn his place and that NOC was disappointed with the development.

"Well what can we do or say when such a thing happens. We are really disappointed that Tony will not be part of us because he was one of those athletes we were expecting to get a medal, considering that our contingent is small," she said.

Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) president Elias Mpondela said Wamulwa's absence at the Olympic Games was a big blow not only to the nation but to the association that has invested heavily in the runner.

Mpondela, who visited Wamulwa at the hospital, said it was sad that Wamulwa in whom the association had put a lot of hope was going to miss such an important competition but expressed hope that he can have a fast-track recovery.

And Moyo said judoka Boas Munyonga would fly out today to Scotland for the training camp and would be joined by runners Prince Mumba and Gerald Phiri and swimmers Jade Howard and Zane Jordan while Choosha is expected to leave the country by the weekend.