A would-be Paralympian claims he is not being given enough help to win selection for the nation’s powerlifting team.

Former British wheelchair sprinting champion Paul Cartwright has changed his discipline and now hopes to compete in the 2012 competition in London.

But he says he has been disappointed at the approach taken by Carnegie College of Excellence in Headingley, where he could get expert training.

“In April I went there for a trial and lifted over 100 kilos and they said go away and get fit and come back in January for an in-house competition to see if I’ve made the grade,” he said.

“I have recently found a gym and I’m being helped by former British power-lifting champion Andy Bolton, but I still need the expertise which relates to a disabled person like me,” said Mr Cartwright, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

“But since that first trial I’ve heard nothing from them. I’ve been left to my own devices – I might get fitter but will I develop the right technique?

“It’s very frustrating. I understand what it needs to be a top athlete – I’ve already done it.”

Mr Cartwright, of Liversedge, was a British champion in wheelchair racing in the 1980s and 1990s at 100, 200 and 400 metres and competed for Great Britain at the Paralympic games in 1984.

Mr Bolton, who has won the world powerlifting title seven times, said: “Paul has a lot of potential. I’m helping him but I think he needs some specialist help because of his condition.”

Fiona Lothian, performance manager for the Olympic Power Lifting squad which is based at the Carnegie College, said her understanding was that Mr Cartwright was advised to work on his fitness so that he would then be able to train with power weights.

“He was a good athlete so we knew he would have the commitment,” she said. “Maybe we didn’t give our advice properly and there was some misunderstanding. We will contact him.”

e-mail: clive.white@telegraphandargus.co.uk