Gold medal contender Jana Rawlinson has been forced to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics through injury, just hours after being named in the Australia squad for next month's Games.

The 400metres hurdles world champion has a number of ailments stemming from a toe injury and will now be forced to miss what would have been her third Games.

The 25-year-old Commonwealth champion was among the main contenders for gold having won the event in Osaka last year.

The Australian, married to Britain's former Commonwealth 400m hurdles champion Chris Rawlinson, was fifth in Athens in 2004 despite competing shortly less than three weeks after having knee surgery.

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