Italian Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs will not compete in the Nairobi meeting on Saturday due to intestinal problems, the Italian federation said a few hours before his race.
"The Olympic champion made the decision this morning with his staff, due to intestinal problems that occurred yesterday (Friday) in Kenya", writes Fidal on its website.
“Marcell will not show up in the starting blocks today because he remains under observation in the emergency room of Uhai Neema hospital, under the control of the Italian NGO World Friends”, declares his trainer Paolo Camossi, quoted by the Federation.
Return on 100 m pushed back
Marcell Jacobs, 27, was due to compete in the Kenyan capital on Saturday for his first 100m since his surprise Olympic title obtained last summer in Tokyo.
The European record holder in the straight line (9′'80) then became world champion in the 60m indoors this winter.
He thus leaves the star in Nairobi to his runner-up from Tokyo, the American Fred Kerley, who faces the local African record holder (9′'77) Ferdinand Omanyala on Saturday.
If he does not change his program, Jacobs plans to compete in a 200m at the meeting in Savona (Italy) on May 18, then a five-star 100m on May 28 at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene (Oregon), where the World Championships will take place in July.