USA sprinter Noah Lyles will NOT race in 4x400m at World Relays as he claims people ‘were threatened with fires’ amid backlash to his selection

Noah Lyles will not compete in the 4x400m event at the World Relays this weekend after revealing people were ‘threatened with fire’ when he raced it at the World Indoors.

The American sprinter has set his sights on winning four gold medals at the Paris Olympics by adding the 4x400m relay to his schedule, in addition to the three events he won at last year’s World Championships: the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 meters.

Lyles got his first chance at the 4x400m at the World Indoors in Glasgow in March, when he ran the third stage as the US claimed silver behind Belgium.

But the 26-year-old’s selection has been widely criticized, with his own teammate Fred Kerley, the 2022 world 100m champion, accusing the US track and field of favoritism and behaving like ‘puppets’.

Despite so much turmoil, Lyles insists he will still be eligible for selection in the 4x400m in Paris.

Teammate Fred Kerley, the 2022 world 100-meter champion, criticized Lyles’ selection in March

However, he has opted out of the World Relays here in Nassau, where teams compete to qualify their spot in the Olympics.

“Unfortunately, no, I’m not going to be in charge of it,” Lyles said. ‘It caused a lot of controversy when I saw someone running the 60 meters and then moving to the 4×400 meters.

‘Some people were written up, other people were threatened with fire. A lot of people in the US were very, very angry that I was driving the 4×4.

“I can’t give all the details, but there were coaches who coached athletes who were on 4×4 and couldn’t run, who were upset about that.

‘They complained to higher-ups about the decision. The higher groups decided to take action.

‘I don’t know if this will happen again. Are they going to implement new rule changes? Don’t know.

“But the way the rules are set up now is that anyone who is actually on the team can be on the relay.

‘I’ll keep doing what I do. It is the relay coach’s decision. I’m going to tell them the same thing: “If you want to use me, I’m here, if you don’t, that’s fine”. I won’t have any hurt feelings about it.

“I’m going to train specifically for the 100 and 200 and be as strong as I can in the 400. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life.”

The World Relays start on Saturday evening, with Great Britain among the countries looking to secure their place at the Olympic Games in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as the mixed 4x400m.

Lyles has opted out of the World Relays as teams look to qualify for the Olympics

But Lyles insists he will still be eligible for selection in the 4x400m in Paris

In total, 14 of the 16 Olympic spots in each event will be decided here and teams will guarantee their place in Paris by finishing in the top two of their heat on Saturday.

Marcell Jacobs, the Italian former long jumper who stunned the world by winning gold in the 100 meters at the Olympic Games in Tokyo three years ago, is one of the big names in action this weekend.

Asked about the pressure of defending his title in Paris, the 29-year-old said: ‘I don’t think it’s pressure. It’s a big motivation to get there and win again.

‘I know it’s not easy. But I will do my best to get there and win the gold medal again.”