By Nick Butler

London 2012 judoka James Austin has been forced to withdraw from the Scottish team for Sochi 2014 due to injury ©AFP/Getty ImagesScotland have been dealt a blow in their preparations for Glasgow 2014 with 100 kilogram judoka James Austin forced to withdraw from the Games with a knee injury.


It was confirmed by TeamScotland and JudoScotland this morning that the 31-year-old had been ruled out after failing to recover from the setback, with James Millar drafted in as replacement.

Austin was set to be one of the most experienced members of the Scottish team in Glasgow after he represented Great Britain at London 2012, where he suffered a first-round exit, and he has described his huge disappointment at missing out. 

"I'm truly gutted to be missing out on the Games," the Edinburgh-based athlete said.

"I tried to work through the injury and would like to thank everyone at JudoScotland for supporting me with this.

"I want to say good luck to the team, and I hope to be there cheering them all on to medals."

Team Scotland Chef de Mission, Jon Doig, admitted it is "hugely disappointing" to lose Austin so close to the Games, and that the team "wish him a very speedy recovery".

"The thoughts of the team are with him as we all know how much this meant to him," he added.

"The health of our athletes is our priority in situations such as this and although he won't be competing, his continued support for the team will be welcomed by all athletes as they take to the tatami from July 24."

But despite this blow, Scotland will not lose much in terms of experience as Austin's replacement, James Milliar, is a three-time British champion who has long competed on the international stage.

James Millar (in white) is another experienced judoka who has competed at the European Championships for Great Britain in the past ©AFP/Getty ImagesJames Millar (in white) is another experienced judoka who has competed at the European Championships for Great Britain in the past ©AFP/Getty Images




Millar will join his fellow judoka with immediate effect in their final preparations for the Games which get underway in the Scottish city on July 23, with the judo competition to begin the following day.

Interestingly, the 32-year-old is coached by Euan Burton, the two-time World Championship bronze medal winner who could now become one of his principal rivals in the under 100kg division in Glasgow. 

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