Aries Merritt withdraws from Diamond League Shanghai meet

Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Aries Merritt of the United States has withdrawn from the men's 110m hurdles event at Sunday's Diamond League Shanghai meet, the organizers confirmed on Thursday.

"US 110m hurdles athlete Aries Merritt can not compete at the 2014 IAAF Diamond League Shanghai meeting due to health issues. Trinidad and Tobago hurdler Thomas will replace him," the organizers said in an announcement released on Thursday.

The 28-year-old Merritt claimed the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games in 12.92 seconds before setting the new world record of 12.80s on September 7, 2012, at the Diamond League meet in Brussels, Belgium.

Despite of Merritt's withdrawal, the 110m hurdles event in Shanghai will witness a star-studded field including the reigning world champion David Oliver of the United States and Cuba's former world record holder Dayron Robles.