Omar McLeod, the 2016 World Indoor 60m hurdles champion, will not compete at this weekend’s Millrose Games at the Armoury in New York.

McLeod, who is looking to defend his Olympic title in Tokyo, Japan, this summer, was among several star athletes down to compete but the athlete revealed his decision to withdraw on Thursday.

“In an Olympic year especially, you have to look at the big picture, and sometimes that means you have to listen to your body and be extra careful,” he said.”

I love competing but I know that I have to do everything to be at my best when it matters most. So for that reason, with great regret, my coach and I have decided to withdraw from the Millrose Games. It was a tough decision but I know in the end it was the right decision.”

McLeod was beset by injuries in 2019 when he also changed coaches twice having left Elrick Floreal for Tony Evans and then to Rana Rieder at the Tumbleweed Track Club in Jacksonville, Florida.

At the World Championships in Doha, McLeod fell mid-race and was dethroned by Grant Halloway.