Reigning women’s Olympic and world 3000m steeplechase champion Yuliya Zaripova had to withdraw from the 2013 IAAF World Championships owing to a season-ending leg injury a day ahead of the biannual athletics gala opening in Moscow.

The 27-year-old Russian injured her take-off leg as she hit the barrier during practice two days ago, her coach Alexei Melnikov said in a statement issued by the Russian Athletics Federation on Friday.

'She has seriously hurt her knee and has torn the inguinal (groin) muscles. She will undergo detailed medical testing but it’s already clear that the season for her is over. It’s a big disappointment for Yulia and all of us as she had a reasonable chance of a very successful performance in Moscow,' said Melnikov.

Zaripova attended her first World Championships in 2009 and ran a personal best of 9:08.39 in the 3000m steeplechase to claim a silver medal. She won the gold medal in the steeplechase at the 2011 edition in Daegu, South Korea, and won the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in a new personal best time of 9: 06.72 before going on to renew her personal best to 9:05.02 in Stockholm, Sweden on August 17, 2012.