Athletics: Rudisha out of world champs

David Rudisha of Kenya reacts after winning the gold medal in Rio. Photo / Getty Images

World 800 metres record holder David Rudisha has pulled out of the world athletics championships due to a quad muscle strain

Rudisha, reigning Olympic and world champion, is the first and only person to run under 1min 41sec for the 800m.

He would have been one of the star names at the August 4-13 global showpiece event in London.

"Its (sic) sad and disappointing to announce my no show in the forthcoming #london2017 WC due to a quad muscle strain," the 28-year-old said.

Rudisha won his first 800m world title in Daegu in 2011, a year before his world record-performance at the Olympics in the same London Stadium where the world championships are being held.

A knee injury in 2013 forced him to miss out on defending his title in Moscow but he recovered to reclaim his crown in Beijing two years ago.