Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Stephen Francis - File

Highly regarded Jamaican coach Stephen Francis confirmed that his star sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will be available for the IAAF World Relays next month in The Bahamas, but feels the timing of the event is not ideal.

Francis, who made the statement before the world 100m and 200m champion was pulled from last week's UTech Classic because of medical reasons that were expected to keep her out for at least two weeks, welcomed the all-relay concept, but feels that the May 24 and 25 event would have been more feasible had it been scheduled much later in the season.

"I think it's a good concept, but it's bad timing. I think it probably should have been at the end of the season, when people are less afraid of going too fast. A lot of people are scared of sprinting in May, a lot of Europeans are just coming off preparation for the outdoor season after competing indoors," Francis told a group of multinational journalists assembled recently for the IAAF's Day in the Life project, which, among others, paid special attention to Fraser-Pryce.

"I think it's going to depend a lot on who is ready to compete, who will make themselves available. It will be less of a novel idea for us (Jamaicans) because we would have just done the Penn Relays and so will the Americans. A lot of athletes I think are looking forward to it and I think we will have a very good event as a consequence," added Francis.

The MVP Track Club head coach was, however, expecting Fraser-Pryce to feature at the event.

"She (Fraser-Pryce) is going to run at least one relay if selected. It's a bit tight because she'll be in Shanghai (Diamond League); five days before, we'll have missed training for a week, (it's) something we have to do and we'll do what's necessary and she has to come back from China to the Bahamas, but I think that athletes have a duty and I think they should be required to support the major events of the sport," Francis noted.

"You have a duty to help, not only for yourself, but to understand that if your country is sending a team and if it's not going to be a way out of your training regimen and so on, by all means you try and go. You let them know that you might not be in the best shape, but I'm available. So she'll make herself available," added Francis.