World 400 metres champion Christine Ohuruogu has withdrawn from the Golden League meeting in Brussels on Friday night due to fatigue.

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Ohuruogu is feeling the effects of a very heavy programme after returning from her one-year suspension for missing three out-of-competition drug tests.

The 23-year-old Londoner has had a hectic schedule - and one well beyond her expectations - when winning the one-lap title in Osaka and also claiming a 4x400m relay bronze medal.

Last Friday in Zurich she admitted to being exhausted and it clearly showed as she laboured to a distant fifth in a slow time of 51.32 seconds.

"Christine is very tired and quite simply has run far too many races in such a short time frame," said Ricky Simms, organiser of her racing programme.

Simms added: "She has not given up on her season. A few extra days' rest and she believes she can do herself justice on Sunday at the Berlin Golden League meeting.

"It is essential after pushing herself so hard in Osaka that she does pace herself after what has been a hectic programme in the last few weeks.

"She is still hungry for another couple of races before the season ends."

Ohuruogu's final race is expected to be in Shanghai on September 30.

In Zurich Ohuruogu had no answer to the class of Sanya Richards, who would have been favourite for the world title but blew her chances when she only finished fourth in the US trials.

Richards, who had to console herself with a 4x400m relay gold in Japan, used the race to demonstrate at the first opportunity that she would have been a worthy champion.

"It was my world championships today," said Richards who won by 15 metres at the Letzigrund Stadium.

Nicola Sanders, who made it a glorious British 400m one-two success in Japan, returns to action and will be one of the biggest threats to Richards.

But the 22-year-old American will also be driven to maintaining her unbeaten GL record, with pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva the only other contender for the IAAF Golden Jackpot of a million dollars (around £500,000).