Moscow, Jul 31 (IANS): Two-time women's high jump world champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia has decided to withdraw from the IAAF World Championships slated for Aug 10-18 in Moscow.
"The pain in my foot became more intense after the Diamond League competition in Monaco and it still has not calmed down," Vlasic said on her website, reports Xinhua.
"This is a clear sign that I need to stop for a while and recover completely. To jump in Moscow would be too much of a risk and could only jeopardise the future, and I don't want to risk that."
The 29-year-old claimed titles at 2007 and 2009 worlds but an ankle injury forced her out of the 2012 London Olympics Games.
After a 20-month absence, Vlasic managed to win in her first event back in the Diamond League New York meet in May.