LONDON, (Reuters) – Britain’s tax laws should be changed to stop the world’s top athletes staying away, UK Athletics said yesterday in the wake of Usain Bolt’s decision not to run at London’s Diamond League meeting.
The Jamaican Olympic and world 100m and 200m champion said on Monday he would skip next month’s event because of Britain’s stringent tax laws.
“It is regrettable that two years out from our home Olympic Games that British sports fans are denied the chance to see this amazing talent in action,” UK Athletics said in a statement.
“However, this is an issue facing all major sporting events in the UK and we are, along with a number of other sports, continuing to work towards a resolution that will secure his presence at our events in future.
“Football Champions League and the London 2012 Olympics have secured an exemption to this law and we would hope we can follow this precedent.”
