SHANGHAI – After pulling out of last week’s Jamaica International Invitational, World and Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has also withdrew from the IAAF Shanghai Diamond League this weekend.
The Jamaican sprint star is currently dealing with a toe injury, which apparently has hinder her preparations.
And with this summer being an important year for her – when she goes in search of her third successive Olympic Games 100m title in Rio, Brazil, her coach Stephen Francis, as expected, will not take any chance on her health.
Fraser-Pryce was down to compete in the women’s 200m, the same event she scratched from at the Kingston meeting last Saturday at the National Stadium.
However, the organizers released a statement on Thursday (11) confirming her withdrawal.
“Top sprinter Shelley-Ann Fraser-Pryce, unfortunately has to cancel her participation in the IAAF Diamond League Shanghai.
The 29-year-old, according to the statement is currently undergoing treatment and is expected to return to competition in a short time.
“She is not able to compete due to a small toe injury. She currently gets treatment and expects to be fit on a short notice.”
“Fraser-Pryce is disappointed that she can not compete in Shanghai, as she was looking forward to the meet,” the statement added on Thursday.
The Jamaican sprinter won Olympic title over 100m at the 2008 and 2012 Games.
She is also a seven-time World champion, including golds in the 100m at the 2009, 2013 and 2015 IAAF World Championships.
Nicknamed the pocket rocket, Fraser-Pryce could be challenged big time by fellow countrywoman and training partner Elaine Thompson, who has been in good form in the early season, including running a wind-aided 10.71 in Kingston, last weekend.
So far this season, she’s posted 23.24 secs for the 200m and ran the anchor leg on the Jamaican second place 4x100m relays team at Penn Relays.
