(ANSA) - ROME, MAY 25 - Italy's 100 metres Olympic champion Marcel Jacobs said Thursday that he has been forced to pull out of Sunday's Diamond League meet in Rabat, which was meant to be his first outdoor race of the season, due to sciatica back pain.
    As a result Jacobs, who is a double Olympic gold medallist after helping the Italian sprint relay team triumph at Toyko 2020, will miss a showdown with American Fred Kerley.
    "The challenge has just been postponed," said Jacobs.
    The sprinter, who has only competed indoors so far this season and has yet to race over 100 metres, said he was not injured and the problem should be solved soon thanks to treatment with Professor Hans Mueller Wohlfahrt, the former Bayern Munich team doctor who helped Usain Bolt in the past.
    "Technically I feel in shape and I'm ready for a good outdoor season," he said. (ANSA).