1500m World Champion, Genzebe Dibaba, has withdrawn from the upcoming Athletics World Championships in Doha later this month with injury.

The first signs of an issue for the Ethiopian emerged during the Zurich Diamond League. Dibaba announced today that an injury to her right foot picked up during the competition in August had forced her to pull out of the World Championships. 

The announcement comes after a strong season for the world record holder and she currently sits in second position in 1500m world lists. Dibaba lowered the world 1500m world record to 3:50.07 in 2015 and secured the world title later that season.

The 28-year-old would have been a key contender in the 1500m at the World Championships in Doha competing against the likes of Dutch runner Sifan Hassan, defending champion Faith Kipyegon, and British hopeful Laura Muir.

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Laura Muir will be one of Great Britain’s biggest medal hopes at Doha and today’s news could provide the opportunity for the Scot to win the country’s first medal in the event since 2011.

Dibaba joins the likes of Caster Semenya who will also not feature in the event after the IAAF introduced a new rule capping testosterone levels in female runners. The Olympic 800m champion took bronze at the 2017 World Championships in her 1500m debut.