Ohuruogu: Sanders must respond to funding cuts

The 30-year-old was handed podium funding by UK Athletics for the year leading up to the London 2012 Olympics however she wasn't among the athletes to have it renewed in October.

For Sanders it marks a disappointing five years that may have seen her selected to represent Britain at every major international in that time but crucially fail to build on her world 400m silver from 2007.

Injuries haven't been kind to Sanders with seemingly the final nail in her funding coffin coming at the London 2012 Olympics where she was an unused member of Britain's 4x400m relay team.

However Ohuruogu, who added 400m silver to the gold she won at Beijing 2008 and was part of the British relay quartet that finished fifth, has told Sanders not to let it mark the end of her career.

"It is tough but I don't believe it is something that she should see as being insurmountable," Ohuruogu said.

"The minute you start seeing it as something that is too big you won't get anywhere and you can't work under those conditions.

"I have always grown up, dealing with what I have done, saying you can never make the situation bigger than yourself and if you have that attitude you can find a way to deal with it.

"It is difficult but unfortunately that is what you have been left with and you have to try and find a way to move around it and not let it get the better of you."

As well as Sanders, Olympic sprint relay champion from 2004 Mark Lewis-Francis had his funding cut again as did European 400m hurdles gold medallist Rhys Williams among others.

And Ohuruogu, who along with Sanders, Perri Shakes-Drayton and Shana Cox won the world indoor 4x400m title back in March, insists there is still much for her to fight for.

"Nicola is not alone and there are a lot of athletes who have had their situation change and it is not nice. There may be some bits you don't like but that is just sport," added Ohuruogu.

"It’s not just athletics but you still have the opportunity to go out and train and work on your trade so it is not ideal but something that can be worked with."