Rudisha out of Doha Meeting with leg injury

World 800m record holder David Rudisha has pulled out of Friday’s opening round of the Diamond League race in Qatar with an injury on his left foot that has prevented him from training.

Also out is World Indoor champion Abubakar Kaki of Sudan. This, however, will not water down the level of competition in the two lap race as Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop, World 800m silver medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego and Rudisha’s training partner Sammy Tangui are expected to compete.

A statement from Rudisha’s management said the Africa champion is suffering from an injury to his left foot, though the ailment is not considered serious.

“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.

Expected to recover

His training partner and pace maker Sammy Tangui, said thogh Rudisha was out, he will try his best as he leaves on Wednesday together with a legion of other local runners for Doha. Rudisha 1:41.01, is expected to recover quickly to compete in the Roma Diamond league on May 26.

“He has not trained for the last one week. His leg is painful and he has not been having simple time training. I am disappointed he will miss out on the trip to Doha. We had done so much together and I thought he would be fit,” said Tangui.

Kiprop remains the best placed to win the race. Kiprop, showed his sharpness when he clocked 1:46.05, the quickest time on Kenyan soil this season in running in Mumias last Friday.

Also lining up in the stellar race is the 2007 World Champion and Olympics silver winner, Alfred Kirwa Yego.

Medical examination

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.

“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,” said a statement by Kaki’s management.

Last season, Rudisha clocked 1:43:00 for victory in Doha. He started this season running in Melbourne and Sydney and has targeted winning the Olympics and the world championship.

The World’s governing body of track and field, IAAF, announced that the prize money for the Diamond League will rise from 450,000 to 480,000 US dollars at each of its 14 meetings.