Budd Withdraws From Meet

LONDON — In a move to head off a clash between British track and field officials and the world governing body, South African-born runner Zola Budd withdrew today from the British team for the World Cross Country Championships in New Zealand.

Making the announcement as the International Amateur Athletic Federation was deciding whether to press for her exclusion, the 21-year-old runner said she had decided to withdraw in the interests of her newly adopted country, Britain, and her teammates. “It is something I do with sadness and regret,” she said.