Pittman-Rawlinson withdraws from world championships

Sydney: World 400 metres hurdles champion Jana Pittman-Rawlinson will not defend her title next month in Berlin because of a lingering back injury, Atheltics Australia said on Sunday.Pittman-Rawlinson has only raced twice since returning to the track last month after a year-long layoff due to complications from a toe injury that forced her out of the Beijing Olympics.

The 26-year-old pulled up with hamstring soreness after last week`s meet in Lucerne and the problem was diagnosed as being caused by a bulging disc in her back. "Unfortunately the injury to my back has meant I haven`t been able to train properly for six weeks and despite intensive treatment, it is still causing me a lot of pain and hampering my running," she said in a statement. "I will now continue treatment over the next few weeks before I head back to Australia, where I hope I can recover from this latest setback and get back on track for my long term goal and dream -- winning Olympic gold in London." The world athletics championships run from Aug. 15-23. Bureau Report