KINGSTON, Jamaica, Sporting Alert – Sanya Richards-Ross has pulled out of the Jamaica International Invitational with a toe injury, meeting director Donald Quarrie has revealed on Tuesday night.

The IAAF World Challenge Meeting will stage at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday 7, May.

Richards-Ross, who announced last month that she will retire when the term closes, was looking forward to racing one last time in front of the Jamaican crowd this weekend, but the injury has now preventing her from competing.

According to local television station Television Jamaica (TVJ), the Jamaican-born American aggravated the injury while running a 4x400m leg in the USA v The World at the Penn Relays over the weekend.

The five-time IAAF World Championships gold medallist was returning from her third surgery on her right big toe in November.

“I have really been struggling with injuries in my right big toe. I’ve had now three surgeries, this last one was in November.

“[I] worked really really hard to get back to this point, but I see this has being my last effort. I really want to make it my best and really enjoy this time,” she said. 

Prior to the announcement, the 31-year-old said she was excited to compete for the final time in front of the local fans. 

“There is no way I was going to miss that meeting,” she said on TVJ. “I had surgery on my foot in November (but) my training is coming along very well.

“I do want to put on a great show, but at the same time I want to be patient this season because my main goal is to make the (Olympic) team and represent well in Rio so this race is more for the fans.

“I just want to be in the building. I want to experience that energy one more time and I am going to give my best effort.”

Richard-Ross has won four Olympic gold medials, including gold at London 2012 over the 400m.

She will be hoping to defend her crown in Brazil this summer.

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