Borzakovsky to miss European champiopnships

The 2004 Olympic Games 800m champion Yury Borzakovsky is injured and will miss the European athletics championships in Barcelona, Russia team manager Valentin Maslakov said Monday.

"Yury (Borzakovsky) felt pain in his heel after the end of the national championships in Saransk," Maslakov said.

"He missed several training days but was still suffering from pain. Doctors said his feet ligament was inflammed.

We decided to avoid risks and to miss the European championships to recover completely."

The national squad head coach also said that Valery Borchin, who was due to represent Russia in the 20km walk, would also have miss the event at Barcelona with a toe fracture.

MOSCOW, AFP