JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The men’s 800-meter world champion of South Africa will miss his title defense at the world championships because of hamstring and back injuries.
Athletics South Africa said Wednesday that Mbulaeni Mulaudzi has been ruled out of the worlds this month in Daegu, South Korea, after an old injury flared up. It said Mulaudzi has received treatment but hasn’t been able to recover.
Mulaudzi says he’ll take care of this injury so he can be ready for the London Olympics next year.
Mulaudzi won the 800 title at the 2009 worlds in Berlin. The 30-year-old runner also is a former world indoor and Commonwealth Games champion in the 800. He won the silver medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
