Julien Alfred: Olympic champion debunks injury rumours as she confirms withdrawal from Diamond League circuit

Paris Olympics 100m champion Julien Alfred has debunked rumours of sustaining any injury, but confirmed her withdrawal from all scheduled Diamond League meets in August.

On Tuesday afternoon (August 12), the Lausanne Diamond League organizers announced that the Saint Lucian track star will not compete on the Diamond League circuit this year due to injury.

Alfred has now debunked this news in an interview with St Lucia Times, that she is in good health and good spirits, but will miss her next two scheduled meets to fine-tune her preparations for the end of the season.

She revealed to St Lucia Times that she is currently training and “working on things in preparation for the last few races”. She will also be working with her coach Edrick Floréal in Texas, in anticipation of a double challenge for gold next month at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. 

Alfred was originally slated to run the 100m in Silesia, the 200m in Lausanne, and the Diamond League final in Zurich, where she was listed to face American sprint rivals Sha'Carri Richardson and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden.

With her withdrawal, it means she won't be defending her Diamond League title, and will have her attention focused on winning her first 100m and 200m world titles in Tokyo.