The Great Britain World Championship athletics team announced yesterday was thin on Scots: just two, relay squads included. Given the new draconian selection policy, it's hard to make a strong case for any other Scottish competitor in an individual event.

A comparable regime imposed by martinet swimming performance director Bill Sweetenham is credited with having turned the tide in a stagnant sport, but athletics in Osaka this month is unlikely to see a similar resurgence. I look forward to being proved wrong.

Among those who competed two years ago in Helsinki, but rated no consideration for selection, are Susan Scott and Shirley Webb, Scottish record holders at 800 metres and hammer respectively.

Both women are attempting to overcome serious medical problems, but their contrasting treatment by the sport raises issues which need to be addressed urgently.

Scott has suffered bronchitis and asthma, and now awaits a hernia operation. The woman who broke the national record in the past two Commonwealth Games, turned down selection for last night's Celtic Cup. "I have ended my season, and I'm awaiting surgery," said Scott, the 29-year-old from City of Glasgow who failed to advance beyond the heats in the UK Championships last weekend. "It's been embarrassing."

Lottery-backed medical services have been investigating since she broke down while training in South Africa early this year. Bronchitis was diagnosed, and a low blood count was detected. But on returning to altitude the symptoms returned.

"I couldn't breathe. I had X-rays, and a range of tests at the Olympic medical centre. Asthma was diagnosed. We asked the IAAF International Association of Athletics Federations about medication. It took weeks to get an answer, and I started medication last week. I was aware of immediate improvement, but too late to impact on my form. It's been a hard time and I've learned a lot about myself."

Yet Scott is fortunate. She is part of Britain's World Class programme, based in Twickenham, with full UK Athletics and Lottery resources behind her. She plans to move to 1500m for the Olympics next year.

"I'm full time, and lucky enough still to be funded, but even if I have to take a part-time job, I'll keep going. I plan an indoor season this winter, to learn more about the 1500, and build aerobic capacity. The Olympics have always been my goal, and I am not giving up on it."

Similar trauma for Webb has had a far more brutal ending. The Edinburgh thrower was in intensive care at Easter, with her mother by her bedside.

Morphine did not kill the pain.

"I had viral meningitis and couldn't even open my eyes for two days," she said.

Webb's balance was affected, yet she took UK Championship silver in Manchester at the weekend, and came close to regaining the GB No.1 place. "A month ago, I doubted if I would make the top eight,"

she said. "I still feel ill when I travel by either car, train, or plane.

I'm physically sick sometimes."

Webb was among GB athletes humiliated by performance director Dave Collins, who awarded her two points out of 10 when he introduced a new evaluation system, then went public without even telling her.

That system has now been dropped, but in a media inquiry about Webb last week, Collins said: "I think she's gone to Germany to train, but I haven't seen many high level performances from her."

No mention of life-threatening illness. No interest either, apparently.

"Nobody from UKA has been in touch with me since October, when I was cut from the funding," Webb told me. "You're totally irrelevant if you're not part of the system. There's no interest unless you are part of the group on Lottery support."

Despite this, she declines to be critical: "I don't want to get involved in the politics. You waste so much energy. They are trying different things on the lead-up to Beijing and London. They've chosen to neglect other areas of the sport and focus simply on medal potential. We need to wait and see if that works or not."

She is training in Germany at her own expense. But illness has caused Webb to reassess everything: "It's put my life in perspective, and I'm grateful even to be able to throw."

She has recently learned of a 17-month old girl who suffered from the same condition that struck her this spring. Tilly has lost both hands and her toes, and needs £20,000 for prosthetics. Webb is helping with an appeal in which celebrities sketch the outline of their hands. They will be put up for auction, to raise funds.

Webb feels a duty of care. That's a lesson UK Athletics might care to consider. Collins is not entirely to blame. He must focus on medals because the Treasury dictates terms for the money they allocate.

It's akin to what Thatcher did to society. Greed replaces ethics.

It begs how events can be properly developed if there are no resources for British champions who don't reach qualifying standards. Nobody was nominated yesterday to represent Britain in 13 events in Osaka.

What profit is there in medals if athletics loses its soul?