Lewis-Francis, 27, was once hailed as a potential world record holder and Olympic 100m champion but has never really fulfilled his potential after a brilliant career as a teenager, which included winning the world junior title in 2000.

 

An Achilles injury prevented him from competing in last year's Olympics in Beijing and, despite joining a new coach, 1992 Olympic 100m champion, Linford Christie, failed to qualify for the World Championships in Berlin.

 

He has paid the price for that by not being among the athletes invited on to the World Class Performance Programme (WCCP) for the 2009/2010 season.

 

There is also no place on the funding programme for Welsh sprinter Christian Malcolm, who finished fifth in the Olympic 200m final in 2004 and 2008.

 

But Wigan runner Jenny Meadows has been rewarded for her 800m bronze medal in Berlin by having her funding upgraded from development to podium level.

 

Swansea's David Greene has also had his funding increased on the back of reaching the 400m hurdles final at the World Championships.

 

There was no more delighted athlete than Turner, whose funding was cut after he was knocked out in the quarter-final of the 110m hurdles at the Beijing Olympics.

 

He is rewarded for his good form this year, despite having missed the World Championships because of a hamstring injury suffered on the eve of the event.

 

He said: "I am delighted to be back on the World Class Performance Programme.

 

"Last year was a difficult time for me, but it was the wake-up call I needed.

 

"I definitely over-competed last year and that experience and the impact it had injury-wise made me realise just what a blessing lottery funding is by allowing us to peak for the big events and perform where it counts.

 

"I am looking forward to embarking on a winter of tough training and repaying the faith shown in my ability in 2010."

 

Another high hurdler, William Sharman (pictured), is handed podium funding after a stunning and unexpected fourth place in the final in Berlin.

 

Charlene Thomas, the surprise winner of the 1500m at the UK Championships, and Jodie Williams, the teenager who won the sprint double at the World Youth Championships, are handed development funding.

 

There is a significant increase in the number of athletes who will be receiving support for the new cycle of funding.

 

The decision by UK Athletics head coach Charles Van Commenee to name just 33 athletes last year represented a 20 per cent decrease in those receiving top level financial support with the intention of giving more to less who could challenge for medals at London 2012.

 

But this time around 42 able-bodied athletes and 15 Paralympic athletes have been chosen at podium level, while 65 have been named at development level.

 

Van Commenee said: "The criteria and selection process has been redeveloped to be much clearer and more transparent for all involved and I am confident it has produced a crop of athletes who will deliver to the aims of the programme, namely success on the global stage.

 

"What is really significant is that the number of podium athletes has increased dramatically, these athletes are put on to this level of funding as a direct result of their performances over the last 18 months, which clearly demonstrates increased levels of world class performance - a clear indication of the impact our lottery funding is having.

 

"To have such a strong set of athletes on the programme really pays testimony to the depth of talent we have within the UK.

 

"With these athletes available for international team selection, 2010 with World Indoors, European Team Championships and European Championships is certainly something to look forward to where we can build on the progress of 2009."

 

Peter Eriksson, Britain's Paralympic head coach, said: "As with our Olympic counterparts, the Paralympic WCPP is about winning medals on the global stage and our criteria reflects that.

 

"I have no doubt that the athletes brought onto the 2009/2010 WCPP programme will take us in the right direction and produce better performances.

 

"[This year] has been an exciting year for the Paralympic Programme, we have created strategy, built a grass roots scheme and developed a performance pathway supported, thanks to the lottery playing general public, with significant funding, and this will take us to 2012 and beyond."

 

 

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