European Championships: Christine Ohuruogu regrets break

Christine Ohuruogu won bronze for England in the Commonwealth Games 4x400m women's relay in Glasgow

Christine Ohuruogu says she regrets her decision to take a year off following her 2013 World Championships 400m win.

Ohuruogu, 30, intended to scale back her commitments this season before returning to competition ahead of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

But the 2008 Olympic gold medallist has confirmed she will compete at the European Championships, from Tuesday.

"I am not at that level where I can afford to squander a year and take a break like that," she told BBC Sport.

Ohuruogu was part of the England team that took bronze in the Commonwealth Games 4x400m women's relay in Glasgow.

She intends to use the European Championships - which take place from 12-17 August in Zurich - as an opportunity to build up her fitness in the women's 400m.

"The Europeans give me a chance to step up my performance, otherwise I would just be ticking along, and that would not be helpful for my progression in the 400m," she said.

Meanwhile Lynsey Sharp, fresh from her silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, will be defending her European 800m title.

She was upgraded to gold after Russian Yelena Arzhakova failed a doping test in 2012, and said she wanted to enjoy a lap of honour that she was denied two years ago.

The 24-year-old Scot added: "I think there'll always be question marks over certain countries, which is a shame, but there's a lot of people who've been done in the last two years which shows massive improvements. I think we're definitely making inroads."

British Athletics performance director Neil Black said he was "optimistic" and "expects" gold medals to be won by GB athletes in Zurich - but stopped short of setting a medal target.

He told told BBC Radio 5 live: "I think medal targets are actually limiting. I think they distract people and we start to focus on the numbers as opposed to just getting out and maximising the performance."