UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins could shed no light on Darren Campbell's refusal to join his team-mates on a lap of honour after Great Britain won the 4x100 metres relay at the European Championships in Gothenburg.

An emotional Campbell, who is expected to shortly announce his retirement, instead told BBC1: "I'm not a hypocrite. How can I do a lap of honour?

"To have certain accusations levelled at me....I just can't take the rubbish any more."

Asked what he was referring to, Campbell replied: "Read the papers."

The row overshadowed the victory by the quartet of Dwain Chambers, Campbell, Marlon Devonish and Mark Lewis-Francis who claimed the sole gold medal of the championships for Britain.

Britain also won at the previous championships in Munich four years ago but they were later stripped of the title after Chambers admitted using designer drug THG.

Collins, however, could not clarify the reason behind Campbell's actions.

He said: "It was crucial to me that these guys had a chance to talk to each other. We've had meetings before, they've trained together before, there was a meeting three days ago and as far as I was aware that went well.

"I think Darren is a man of high principles. He said what he wasn't happy with and he was happy to go with the decision and the other two guys were fine.

"As far as I was concerned it was sorted and we'll find out what it is."

Asked whether Campbell's actions were a result of a perceived problem with Chambers, Collins added: "The most important thing is that things are out in the open that people front up and face up and that has happened.

"As far as I was concerned it was solved and I am as surprised as you are.

"I don't even know the cause of it. So we will have to find out."