Lavillenie Withdraws from Doha Meet

Published by iol Sport on May 12, 2015

Pole vault world record-holder Renaud Lavillenie withdrew from the season-opening Diamond League meet in Doha after injuring his right shoulder while running in a 4×100-meter race for his club in France. 

Lavillenie hurt his shoulder when he fell at the finish line running the anchor leg at the national club championships in Lyon on Sunday, Diamond League organizers said in a statement. 

Lavillenie’s manager, Rene Auguin, said the Olympic and European champion was out for 10 days and couldn’t compete in Doha on Friday. There was no serious damage to Lavillenie’s shoulder, Auguin said, but the injury comes at the start of an important season for the Frenchman, who is aiming to win his first title at the world championships in Beijing in August.