Fourie sidelined for world champs
Olympic finalist Lehann Fourie has picked up a season-ending ankle injury and will not be going to the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, next month.
The 110m hurdler said today he had torn ankle ligaments during a training camp in Paris last week and had to withdraw from the South African team.
"I've received treatment and it was confirmed... that I would not recover in time for the world championships," Fourie said.
He was on crutches and would return from his base in the United States to receive treatment in South Africa.
"It was a frustrating year for me. I could only run in four races and I was not completely fit after all my injuries," he said.
The South African high hurdles record holder set a B-standard qualifying time for the global championships on two occasions this season.
He reached the final of his specialist event at the London Olympics and was hoping to carry the confidence from the Games through to this year's world championships.
Fourie's withdrawal follows in the wake of other high-profile athletes opting out of the global spectacle due to injury.
Olympic marathoner Irvette van Zyl pulled out last week with a knee injury.
Middle-distance star Juan van Deventer and long-distance runner Rene Kalmer declared themselves unavailable for selection as they were not fully fit to compete at the highest level.
Meanwhile, Caster Semenya failed to achieve the qualifying standard in Belgium on Saturday.
She missed the B-standard by 0.36 seconds two days before the qualifying deadline.
(File photo:Gallo Images)
- Sapa
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