NATIONAL NEWS - World 400m record holder and Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk has told EWN Sport that his management has sent a special request to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to change the scheduling of the 400m and 200m races at the 2017 World Championships in London.

That's in order for him to compete in the 200m and set up a possible showdown with Usain Bolt as he chases a sprint double.

The IAAF has responded to van Niekerk's request saying that it’s the duty of the country’s federation to make the request, in this instance Athletics South Africa (ASA), but they have given an indication a change at this stage would be unlikely as tickets have already been sold to the event.

Van Niekerk’s manager Peet van Zyl has confirmed that he is still in the process of writing to ASA to make the request on van Niekerk’s behalf.

The London World Championships will be Bolt's last competition before he hangs up his spikes with him yet to confirm which events he’ll enter.

He’s the defending world champion in both the 100m and 200m.

Van Niekerk's concern is that the 200m heats take place around two hours before the final of the 400m on 8 August.