Injured Maslak misses 400m title defence, season over

Czech sprinter Pavel Maslak has suffered a season-ending injury robbing him of a defence of his 400m title at next month`s European championships, his manager announced on Tuesday.

"The injury on his right hamstring is not cured enough to give him enough time for quality training ahead of the Zurich championships" on August 12-17, said his manager Alfons Juck. The 23-year-old reigning 400m world indoor champion tore his hamstring at the end of May. Maslak had expected to run at the Diamond League meet in Monaco on Friday but withdrew his registration on Monday.