Tyson Gay pulls out of Golden League finale

Reigning world champion Tyson Gay of the United States withdrew Thursday from the Memorial Van Damme meet in Brussels, where he planned to compete in the 100 metres.

Gay, 26, has yet to fully recover from a left hamstring injury suffered at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Ore., more than two months ago. 

"I will not make it on Friday," Gay said. "I really wanted to compete, but I cannot race."

The Brussels sprint boasted one of the strongest fields in Golden League history with world record holder Usain Bolt, teammate and former world record holder Asafa Powell and Gay expected to toe the line at King Baudouin Stadium.

But the American was reluctant to risk further injury to the hamstring, which prevented him from even reaching the final at the recent Beijing Olympics. 

"Any further injury would have seriously damaged my preparations and my chances for the [2009] world championships in Berlin," said Gay, who won the 100, 200 and 4x100 at last year's worlds in Osaka, Japan.

"I need to come back next year and compete as strongly as I can after suffering this summer."

Bolt is heavily favoured to win the 100 at Brussels, having lowered the world record to 9.69 seconds at Beijing, while Powell equalled the old world standard of 9.72 Tuesday at the Athletissima Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Gay ran a wind-aided 9.68 in the 100 at the Olympic trials in June, prior to injuring his hamstring in the 200.

CBC Sports will provide coverage of the Golden League finale in Belgium on Saturday (CBC, cbcsports.ca, 12 p.m. ET).