Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs will not compete in the 100-meter event on Friday in the Diamond League competition in Florence because of his ongoing back issue, according to the Italian Athletics Federation.


"The recovery process for Jacobs, after the problem that emerged in recent days, does not appear to be fully completed yet," the federation said in a statement on Tuesday.

PHOTO | COURTESY

Due to a spinal nerve issue, Jacobs withdrew from last week's race in Rabat where he was scheduled to compete against world champion Fred Kerley.

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At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the Italian defeated Kerley to win gold, but the two have not competed since.


Due to a spinal nerve issue, Jacobs withdrew from last week's race in Rabat where he was scheduled to compete against world champion Fred Kerley.


After the 100-meter heats, Jacobs withdrew from the US world championships, missing most of the 2022 season.



Earlier, Marcell Jacobs made it known that he wouldn't be competing in this weekend's eagerly anticipated sprint matchup in Morocco with Fred Kerley. Jacobs explained his absence from the event as being caused by a back nerve issue. The Italian sprinter, who won the gold medal at the Olympics in Tokyo, had been scheduled to compete against American sprinter Kerley on Sunday in Rabat. Jacobs had accepted Kerley's challenge after becoming the world champion in front of the public.

The 2023 World Championships will take place in Budapest from August 19–27.