Olympic 400 metres champion Cathy Freeman has confirmed
she will not defend her title at the World Championships in Edmonton in August.
The 1997 and 1999 world champion is going to take the rest of the season off and her next major championships will be next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
By taking a year off, Freeman misses the opportunity to chase a third world title in Canada but she said that the time off would hopefully give her another five or six years in the sport.
The 28-year-old refuted rumours she was pregnant.
AFP
