News19 Apr 2013


Fraser-Pryce added to Doha meeting, Blake withdraws - IAAF Diamond League

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Olympic 100m champion, Shelly-Ann Fraser (© Getty Images)

Jamaica’s two-time Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will compete over 200m at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha on 10 May, organisers announced on Friday (19).

At the London 2012 Olympic Games, Fraser-Pryce bounced back after a disappointing 2011, when she could only finish fourth at the World Championships in the defence of her 100m World title she won in 2011, to take her second Olympic 100m gold and she is the fourth fastest female 100m sprinter ever with a personal best of 10.70 set in Kingston last year.

This will be Fraser-Pryce’s second appearance in Doha, after finishing behind Allyson Felix in last year’s 100m race. This time, she will test herself in the longer sprint, an event in which she also got a silver medal in London last summer.

Unfortunately, her compatriot and reigning World 100m champion Yohan Blake has had to withdraw from the meeting after MRI scans revealed that the injury he sustained at an athletics meeting in Jamaica last week will keep him on out of action for a few weeks longer than expected.

"I have always wanted to run in Doha, when I got the opportunity I was over the moon. Unfortunately I have to withdraw because of a slight injury, but these things do happen. I was looking forward to running in Doha because I have never been there and also because I wanted the people to see what a beast I am on the track. I guess there is always next year,” said Blake.

Qatar Athletics Federation President and Doha meeting director Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad expressed his sympathy for Blake’s bad luck.

“I have been officially informed that Yohan Blake is not able to compete in the Doha 2013 meeting due to an injury he sustained while competing at a meeting in Jamaica. I am truly wishing him a speedy recovery and I am sure that he will be back in full strength to fulfil his 2013 goals. We hope to see Yohan in Doha net year.”

Organisers for the IAAF

2013 IAAF Diamond League Calendar
Doha, QAT – 10 May
Shanghai, CHN – 18 May
New York, USA – 25 May
Eugene, USA – 1 Jun
Rome, ITA – 6 Jun
Oslo, NOR – 13 Jun
Birmingham, GBR – 30 Jun
Lausanne, SUI – 4 Jul
Paris, FRA – 6 Jul
Monaco, MON – 19 Jul
London, GBR – 26-27 Jul
Stockholm, SWE – 22 Aug
Zürich, SUI – 29 Aug
Brussels, BEL – 6 Sep