World Championship bronze medallist Rushell Clayton has been withdrawn from the women’s 400 metres hurdles at Saturday’s Wanda Diamond League meet in London, sparking questions ahead of one of the event’s marquee races.

Clayton, who recently claimed the Jamaican national title in the event, was quietly removed from the start list without any official explanation. There are no confirmed details surrounding her late withdrawal, though it’s worth noting she suffered an injury earlier this season at the Grand Slam Track Series in Kingston. Whether her absence is linked to that setback remains unknown.

Her withdrawal adds to that of Jamaican sprinter Akeem Blake, who will also miss the meet after pulling out of the men’s 4×100 metres relay.

Despite these losses, Jamaica will still have strong representation on what is expected to be a thrilling day of track and field action at the London Stadium.

In Clayton’s absence, compatriots Janieve Russell and Andrenette Knight will carry the Jamaican flag in the women’s 400 metres hurdles, going head-to-head with 2023 world champion Femke Bol of the Netherlands. That race is scheduled for 8:04 a.m. Jamaica time.

The men’s 100 metres, slated for 9:27 a.m., will feature Oblique Seville lining up in a world-class field that includes World and Olympic champion Noah Lyles, the red-hot Akani Simbine, British record holder Zharnel Hughes, and Olympic 200m gold medallist Letsile Tebogo.

In the women’s 200 metres, Ashanti Moore is set to compete at 9:38 a.m., facing a stacked line-up that includes Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, former world champion Dina Asher-Smith, and British teammates Amy Hunt and Daryll Neita.

In the field events, Jamaica’s Carey McLeod and 2019 world champion Tajay Gayle will square off against Olympic silver medallist Wayne Pinnock in a highly anticipated long jump showdown.

The men’s discus will be contested by Roje Stona, the reigning Olympic champion and record holder.

Meanwhile, Natoya Goule-Toppin, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, is set to compete in the women’s 800 metres at 8:52 a.m..

Jamaica’s men’s 4x100m relay team, minus Blake, will aim to secure a spot at the World Championships in Tokyo. The team will go up against strong squads from Great Britain (two teams), Poland, the Netherlands, and Scotland, with the race scheduled for 7:27 a.m. Jamaica time.