Sydney - Australian dual world champion Jana Rawlinson will not defend her 400-metre hurdles title at next month's world championships in Berlin. Rawlinson, who has a bulging disc in her back, told The Australian newspaper: "Despite intensive treatment, it is still causing me a lot of pain and hampering my running."
Athletics Australia high-performance manager Eric Hollingsworth said that injuries had dogged Rawlinson since she competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a 17-year-old.
"She now needs to take a long rest to give the disc time to settle down," Hollingsworth said. "Jana's next major goal after that will be the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi next October."
