The 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships were gearing up to be an amazing celebration of what athletes can achieve, all happening at the famous National Stadium. Everyone was buzzing with excitement for some record-breaking performances from superstars like Mondo Duplantis and Keely Hodgkinson. But just a day before the big event, things took a sharp turn with a surge of controversy. The sporting world was rocked when American sprint phenom Erriyon Knighton received a devastating four-year doping ban for a positive steroid test, shattering the men’s 200-meter field.

In a surprising turn of events, Ethiopian 1500m silver medalist Diribe Welteji was suddenly declared ineligible due to a pending case involving her alleged refusal to take a drug test, shaking up the women’s middle-distance competition. Furthermore, Qatari high jump star Mutaz Essa Barshim, a three-time world champion, sadly had to pull out of what was supposed to be his last championships because of a serious foot injury. They were all ready for nine days of competition, but the unpredictable nature of sports was already in the air. And this was just the start.

Who are the athletes who have recently withdrawn from the World Athletics Championships due to injury?

The 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo faced quite a challenge with a bunch of high-profile injuries, leading to the withdrawal of several top contenders. Gabby Thomas, the American 200m Olympic champion, had to withdraw because of a nagging Achilles tendon injury that got worse in July, which made it tough for her to compete at her best.

Australian pole vault Olympic and world champion Nina Kennedy suffered a devastating fresh leg muscle strain during a final training session, a major setback that occurred just months after she had undergone hamstring surgery.

Jaiden Reid, the 200m sprinter from the Cayman Islands, has decided to withdraw from competition. He mentioned that he’s dealing with hip and hamstring injuries and wants to focus on his long-term health instead of pushing through right now. Thomas and Kennedy not being there really changed the game for their events, taking away some of the biggest names and highlighting just how tough and unpredictable it can be for elite athletes.

Which stars are making a comeback after injury layoffs in Tokyo?

Jakob Ingebrigtsen is working hard to get back in the game for the 1500m and 5000m events in Tokyo after a tough time with a strained Achilles tendon that kept him out for most of the 2025 season. The Norwegian star, who’s a two-time Olympic and world champion, called the season “pretty miserable,” but he’s really focused on winning if he makes it to the start line.

Even though he’s been using cross-training methods like aqua jogging to stay fit, he’s really struggling with race sharpness, and that’s a big hurdle for him. Ingebrigtsen is still sticking to his aggressive style, but with his injury layoff and the increased competition, his comeback is definitely one of the most exciting stories to watch in the championships.

How are injuries impacting the medal contenders at the World Athletics Championships?

Recently, there have been quite a few injuries that have really changed things up at the World Athletics Championships. Some of the top contenders are out, which has opened the door for some surprising chances for others. With Gabby Thomas, the reigning Olympic champion in the women’s 200m, not competing, Team USA is definitely feeling her absence in the event. This also gives a chance for other competitors, like Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia, to take advantage of a more unpredictable field and maybe even snag a spot on the podium.

In the women’s pole vault, Nina Kennedy’s withdrawal is definitely a big loss. With her being the reigning Olympic and world champion, her absence takes away the main favorite for the event and the interesting story of her title defense. If Kennedy can’t keep clearing those top heights, it really opens things up for others. Athletes like Molly Caudery from Great Britain and Katie Moon from the United States might just have a shot at stepping into the spotlight again.

These injuries have taken away some of the star power and exciting rivalries from the championships. They’ve really changed the competitive landscape, making the results a lot less predictable and opening the door for new champions to step up.