World triple-jump champion Phillips Idowu insisted he was right to make a late withdrawal from the UK Trials and Championships in Birmingham on Sunday.

Idowu was one of the main attractions for the British crowd at his home track, along with world and European heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu.

But while Ennis competed in five individual events over the weekend and Ohuruogu finished third in the 400 metres, Idowu told organisers just 24 hours before his appearance that he would not be competing.

Idowu is guaranteed his place at this month’s World Championships in South Korea as defending champion and he felt he had nothing to gain by competing at Birmingham.

“I didn’t think it was respectful to go there and just do one jump or put in a performance which was below par because people pay their money to watch the best British athletes compete at their best and I’m not at my best right now,” Idowu said.

“I’ve had a tough couple of weeks training. I think people will prefer me to go out and jump well in Korea than to come here and jump poorly.”

Idowu is embroiled in a row with UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee over his withdrawal from the Euro Team Champion-ships earlier this year.

But although this latest incident is unlikely to help matters, Idowu is focused on retaining his title in Daegu, where his cause will be helped by the absence of injured rival Teddy Tamgho.

“I don’t want people to think I won the medal by default,” he said.

“It’s a massive stepping stone for me and with Teddy out I have to put in a performance that stamps out I was going to win regardless.”