Kenyan star Rudisha pulls out of World Championships

Two-time world champion David Rudisha has pulled out of the London 2017 IAAF World Championships due to injury.

Rudisha, who won gold at the Daegu 2011 and Beijing 2015 editions of the World Championships, announced his withdrawal on Twitter on Monday evening, reports Xinhua news agency.

"It's sad and disappointing to announce my no show in the forthcoming #london2017 WC due to a quad muscle strain," Rudisha wrote on his official twitter account.

Speaking to Xinhua at the team's camp in Nairobi, the men's 800m world record holder and two-time Olympic champion explained his stunning withdrawal.

"The injury occurred in the last 200m of my last training session. After an MRI scan, the injury could not heal in time.

"I'm disappointed for not defending my title and running for my country but I have to focus on recovery to prolong my career," Rudisha added.

The Kenyan superstar was preparing to depart for the scene of his greatest triumph in London on Tuesday morning before his late pull out.

At the London 2012 Olympics, Rudisha broke the world record in 1:40.91 in a performance hailed as the greatest over the two-lap distance.

Rudisha is the second Kenyan Beijing 2015 gold winner to see a title defence in London ended by injury after men's 400m hurdles winner Nicholas Bett, withdrew from the competition last week.

--IANS

ajb/dg