Wayde van Niekerk will not defend world 400m title in Doha
World record holder Wayde van Niekerk has shown that since he’s yet to recover from a knee injury he won’t defend his 400m name at this month’s World Championships at Doha.
The Olympic champion suffered the injury when playing with a charity touch rugby match in October 2017 and has not raced since.
Even the 27-year-old South African returned to coaching however, says he is in no rush.
“I’m still convinced and I’m just taking things day by day, respecting all the calls produced by the physicians and respecting my body,” Van Niekerk said in an statement.
“For me it is just about listening to my own body and taking it from there. My objective is to care for my body and I’ll take it as soon as the chance comes.
“For today I am not hurrying myself or putting stress on myself. I’m really happy and at peace with where I am.”
His doctor Louis Holtzhausen, who has been top the comeback during the previous two years of Van Niekerk, believes it’s going to proceed rapidly in the coming months.
“The health care teams, equally at Bloemfontein and Aspetar (Qatar), did all we could have him ready for the World Championships, but it was just not possible,” Holtzhausen stated.
“But he has successfully returned to monitor all signs are that he’ll recover more rapidly from now on.”
Van Niekerk had expected to run at the African championships in April but hauled out and skipped a return in the London Diamond League after suffering a bruise at the bone into his knee.
Van Niekerk beat on Michael Johnson’s 17-year world record at the 2016 Olympics in the 400m and was set to undertake the 200m and prior to his injury.
He won gold at the World Championships at Beijing in 2015.