Kim Collins: Former 100m World Champion Out, Reportedly Sent Home by St. Kitts

Kim Collins, a former World Champion in the 100-meter, has reportedly been sent home by his country, St. Kitts and Nevis, for visiting his wife in a hotel.

St. Kitts and Nevis team spokesman Lester Hanley tells The Associated Press that Collins won't run in his heat after breaking team discipline rules by leaving the athletes village.

"Kim has not been in camp the last couple of days," Hanley said.

This situation allegedly came about as a result of Collins’ refusal to stay with the team in its arranged accommodations and instead stayed in a hotel with his wife and kids.

Collins took to social media to make the announcement on his Twitter account Saturday morning:

"

My fans. I won't lie. Won't be running later tonight @lo2012

— kim collins (@kimcollins100m) August 4, 2012"

The St. Kitts’s native likened his situation to men in prison’s ability to see their wives:

"

Even men in prison get their wives to visit.

— kim collins (@kimcollins100m) August 4, 2012"

Collins, 36, was not a favorite to win, or medal, in the 100-meter with the likes of Usain Bolt in the running. However, as a now five-time Olympian and former World Champion in 2003, it’s hard to discount anyone who's able to reach this grand stage.

He may not be the international star that Usain Bolt has become, but in St. Kitts and Nevis, Collins walks on water. The sprinter carried the flag for the small Caribbean nation during the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony last week with a huge smile on his face.

This brings up an interesting discussion as to the ability for a nation to pull its own athletes from Olympic competition. Sure, we’ve heard about the drug test failures and racial slurs on Twitter, but when is it okay to punish someone for visiting their wife?

As Collins himself said, he is an athlete, not a prisoner.

He may have broken a team rule, but is it a good one to break?