Greene withdraws from world championships

World 100 metres champion Maurice Greene withdrew on Monday from the remainder of the world championships after injuring his left thigh in Sunday's final.

Greene, who had already pulled out of the 200 metres, told a news conference he would not take part in the 4x100 metres relay.

But the Olympic champion and world record holder said he still hoped to be fit again within two weeks, raising the possibility of a rematch with silver medallist Tim Montgomery in Zurich on August 17.

"I will not compete at the world championships," Greene said. "I don't want my ego to get in the way of the U.S. 4x100 relay team winning the gold medal.

"I would run if it was up to me but I want them to bring home the gold."

Greene, who clocked 9.82 seconds on Sunday, the third fastest time ever, said he had a slight strain in his left quadricep.

"It's hard for me to pick up my foot from the ground," he said.

"I felt something in the quad. I didn't feel right but when I'm out there competing I'd probably have to pull all four muscles in my legs not to get to the finish line.

"If I had to crawl across the finish line I would crawl."

TREATMENT
Greene said he would now return to the United States for treatment.

"I'm going home to rehabiliate," he said. "Hopefully I'll be ready to compete in two weeks. When I start to feel good I will be back out there."

Greene is scheduled to meet team mate Montgomery at the Zurich Golden League meeting on August 17. He is also due to run in Brussels, Gateshead, England, and the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia next month.

The 27-year-old American was on course to break his own world record of 9.79 on Sunday, despite running in to a slight headwind, when his thigh gave way in the final 20 metres.

His coach John Smith told Reuters he had noticed Greene break his stride halfway through the race.

"He had a weird step about 50-60 metres," Smith said. "It felt like he hit a dip in the track. I think that's what set up the problems with his quads."

Smith said he was optimistic Greene would return before the end of the northern season.

"He hurt himself worse than this last year in the Olympic trials and he came back and ran well," he said.

Both Greene, the 1999 world champion, and Michael Johnson, the 1996 Olympic gold medallist, failed to finish the 200 metres in the trials.