Team GB star apologises live on TV after suffering World Athletics Championship disaster

Team GB's men endured a catastrophic 4x100m relay collapse as they crashed out during the heats following a bungled baton exchange on the anchor leg. The British quartet had been fancied to contend for podium honours but joined several other teams, including Jamaica, in bombing out before the final.

Prospects appeared bright until Eugene Amo-Dadzie, tasked with the final leg for GB, departed prematurely from the changeover zone, leaving Jona Efoloko with no possibility of completing a legitimate handover. The blunder means Wales' Jeremiah Azu, who tackled the opening leg, will return from Tokyo empty-handed after also missing out on the 100m individual final.

It marks another year of anguish for the sprinter, who endured Olympic devastation when he was eliminated for a false start in the Paris heats.

Amo-Dadzie offered his apologies during a live BBC interview immediately following the race, saying: "I put my hands up and I want to say sorry to the boys. Sport can be cruel sometimes.

"First and foremost, I'm apologising to my coach and to my boys. I didn't do my job well enough today. It's frustrating. I was feeling really good. It's a shame that we haven't got an opportunity to show what we can do. It hurts."

Efoloko responded: "Unfortunately, these things happen as a team. We'll come back and learn."

Ghana claimed victory in Team GB's heat, with the Netherlands finishing second and Japan taking third place.

South Africa were also unable to complete their race amid contentious scenes after an Italian athlete in the neighbouring lane obstructed their progress. An appeal is now anticipated.

Azu competed without his "100% Jesus" headband which had previously landed him in hot water during the individual competition.

World Athletics had issued Azu with a warning, releasing a statement which read: "We are aware of the headband, and as he may compete in the relay we will remind the team ahead of competition of our regulations and of consequences."

BBC analyst Greg Rutherford commented on the relay disappointment: "He's [Eugene Amo-Dadzie] just gone too soon. It's heartbreaking. The changeovers were beautiful from one to two and two to three.

"We were moving well then the South Africans felt impeded by the Italians and at this point we're thinking brilliant that's us in the finals and actually a great chance in the finals.

"He's just gone too soon. We put so much into the relay in this country to make sure this goes right and it's gone really, really poorly today."

Fellow pundit Jeanette Kwakye added: "You can see Jona Efoloko is shouting 'hand' and essentially he is asking for Eugene Amo-Dadzie to put his hand out but you can see he's gone too soon.

"What's frustrating about that is sometimes people say it's the responsibility of the incoming runner but there are measured steps and they practise some much. Really and truly there isn't an excuse."

The women's 4x400m relay team ended up last in their heat.

Rutherford expressed his disappointment, stating: "I'll be totally honest that's not good enough and we have to put it into perspective.

"Yes, it's tough and conditions are hard but when there's that much focus on an event you can't come last in your heat at a world championships.

"The four girls that went out there they should be able to navigate a qualification. From my point of view, it's genuinely not good enough."