Injury has forced Kenya's 800m World record-holder, David Rudisha, to withdraw from Friday's opening leg of the 2011 Samsung Diamond League meeting in Doha, Qatar.
Rudisha, the 2010 World Athlete of the year, is suffering from an injury to his left foot that prevented him from training over the past week, but the ailment is not considered serious.
A statement from Rudisha's management said:
"I am very disappointed not to be able to run at this meeting, where I have opened my summer racing season for the last four years," said Rudisha, who opened his season at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Melbourne on 3 March, clocking 1:43.88, the fastest in the world this season.
The Kenyan's physician described the injury as peritendinitis of the foot's flexor muscles of the left lower leg, but added that there is "No injury of the ankle, no stress reaction/fracture, and no cartilage injury."
Rudisha's injury setback is not expected to impact his scheduled race appearances later this month.
Kaki out
Double World Indoor champion Abubaker Kaki, one of Rudisha's chief rivals, has also pulled out of the 800m due to a small muscular injury.
A statement by Kaki's managment said:
"Kaki sustained a leg cramp while training which has revealed a small muscular injury. He has had an examination by a physio and has been told to take it very easy for the next week so the injury will not get any worse and has time to recover."
IAAF/Samsung Diamond League