SANCHEZ
LONDON, (Reuters):
DOUBLE WORLD 400 metres hurdles champion Felix Sanchez plans to ignore medical advice and defend his title next month in Helsinki.
The 27-year-old Dominican shrugged off hamstring and calf injuries to win Olympic gold in Athens last year but the New York-born hurdler then broke down at a Golden League meeting in Brussels in September.
He has raced only twice since and was beaten in Madrid earlier this month by American Bershawn Jackson.
Sanchez's manager, Tony Campbell, said the injury had been diagnosed as a calcium deposit on his left foot.
"He is having laser treatment every day, and the medical advice is that he should not run but he is a determined and very patriotic person and wants to compete even if he dies trying," Campbell told the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) website yesterday.
Campbell said Sanchez also hoped to represent his country in the 4x400 metres relay in the Finnish capital.
