World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson has withdrawn from the 200m at Diamond League final set to take place in Brussels on Saturday.
The American was set to be the headline act in the 200m but has pulled out of the race for unknown reasons, with Dutchwoman Tasa Jiya replacing her in the line-up.
It comes a day after Richardson had a disappointing 100m race on Friday when she finished in a shocking eighth position, in a time of 11.23 seconds, as St Lucia’s Julien Alfred claimed victory after clocking 10.88.
It was unlike Richardson in Friday’s race as she had poor start and struggled to recover, opting to slow down to the disappointment of her fans.
The Olympics silver medallist was to right those wrongs in the 200m on Saturday but she has decided to pull out with a number of theories thrown around as to why she might have opted out.
It has been a topsy-savvy season for the American who was considered hot favourite to win Olympics gold before Alfred floored her and fans had expected an epic battle in Brussels after she got her revenge over the St Lucien in Zurich a week ago but it was not to be.
In her absence, Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and veteran Ivorian sprinter Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith, are left as the big stars in the race, and will be joined by Americans Brittany Brown, Tamara Clark and Anavia Battle, Ta Lou-Smith’s Ivorian compatriot Maboundou Kone, and British duo of Daryll Neita and Amy Hunt.
