DOHA, Qatar (AP) β Pole vault world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie has withdrawn from the season-opening Diamond League meet in Doha after injuring his shoulder while running in a 4×100-meter race for his club in France.
A statement from Diamond League organizers on Tuesday said Lavillenie hurt his shoulder when he fell at the finish line running the anchor leg in Lyon on Sunday.
Lavillenie’s manager, Rene Auguin, said the Olympic champion was out for 10 days and can’t compete in Doha on Friday.
Auguin said there was no serious damage to Lavillenie’s shoulder, but the injury comes at the start of an important season for the Frenchman, who is aiming to win his first title at the world championships in Beijing in August.
Lavillenie was the IAAF’s 2014 athlete of the year.
