Ato pulls out Mexico meet

MEXICO CITY: Trinidad and Tobago’s four-time Olympic sprint medallist Ato Boldon has withdrawn from Saturday’s IAAF Grand Prix meeting in Mexico with a left leg strain.

Meet organisers say Boldon called on Sunday night to inform them he was unable to compete, dashing the fans’ chance to see his 100-metre clash with world record holder Tim Montgomery. Event coordinator German Silva said another racer of similar standing would likely be brought in as a replacement. Boldon, who won double bronze at the Atlanta Olympics, and silver and bronze four years later at Sydney 2000, suffered the injury while competing at the Mount SAC Relays in California earlier this month. Silva said Australian 400-metre Olympic champion Cathy Freeman was set to fly in for the event on Thursday.