Japan's Olympic hammer throw champion Koji Murofushi has decided not to compete at the upcoming athletics world championships in Helsinki after failing to fully recover from health problems, athletics sources said Monday.
Murofushi, awarded victory in Athens after Hungary's Adrian Annus was disqualified for doping violations, has been suffering with lower back problems and he missed his scheduled season-opener at the IAAF Grand Prix meet in Osaka in May with a fever.
The 30-year-old took a record 11th title in his season debut at the national track and field championships in June but his best throw of 76.47 meters was well outside his national record of 84.86.