A spot of trouble reared its head in the ranks of the Dutch sprinters on the way to the defence of their world title in Shanghai next month, after Hinkelien Schreuder was told by head coach Jacco Verhaeren that her preparation so far told him that she was not up to racing the heats of the 4x100m free in China and is to be replaced by the Dutch No7, Ilse Kraaijeveld, 21.

That prompted Schreuder, 27, to withdraw from the world championships as sheer considers her future in the sport. On her website today, Schreuder, national record holder over 50m backstroke and heats swimmer in the 4x100m freestyle relays that led to Dutch gold at both the Olympic Games in 2008 and world championships in 2009, suggests that she will now consider quitting the race pool.

She writes: "To me it is unbelievable that these decisions can be taken at this time in preparation. In the next couple of weeks I will take time to think about the way I will continue my swimming career."

Schreuder is sixth fastest 100m freestyler in the Netherlands this season, her 55.63 season best the sixth best of her career a second down on her March 2008 lifetime best set at a home European Championships in Eindhoven. Kraaijeveld, a personal charge of Verhaeren's, is a touch away, on 55.78.

Asked about the situation, Verhaeren told SwimNews that he had issues with both Schreuder and her coach Marcel Wouda, the former Dutch medley international, in terms of their preparations for Shanghai. "I made the decision to replace Hinkelien with Ilse Kraaijeveld as possible reserve on the 4x100m," said Verhaeren.

Schreuder's note in full:

"No Shanghai World Championships 

"In preparation for the World Championships in July, discussion about the cooperation between me and my trainer arise. The confidence in this partnership was terminated by him as of today. 

"Only this, gives the technical director reason to doubt my potential performance in Shanghai. He has informed me about the fact that he, for sure, will not let me swim in the heats of the 4x100m freestyle relay. 

"I would have liked to have the opportunity to swim in Shanghai and show what I was intended to do: to deliver a top performance there. Unfortunately the decision of the technical director means that I don`t even get the opportunity to swim at all.

"I have always been fully committed to the success of this preparation and that of the World Championships. To me it is unbelievable that these decisions can be taken at this time in preparation. 

In the next couple of weeks I will take time to think about the way I will continue my swimming career."