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Diagana out of Olympics

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PARIS, Sept 15 (AFP) - France's 400m hurdler Stephane Diagana has pulled out of the Sydney Olympics, the French Athletics Federation revealed Friday.

The Federation said the withdrawal of 1997 World Champion Diagana was because of "persistent health problems with the right knee".

"I took the decision in agreement with my coach to renounce my participation in the Olympics," said Diagana, quoted in the communique.

Diagana has had an injury-plagued season with back problems, abdominal pains before his knee injury flared up.

It marks a second Olympic heartbreak for Diagana who also missed the Atlanta Games.

The athlete's coach Fernand Urtebise admitted he was devastated at his charge's misfortune.

"It's a terrible heartbreaker," Urtebise told AFP from the camp in Perth where he and Diagana have been based in their vain bid to be fit for the Games.

"These Games were going to be the end of a lot of hard work with a lad I adore and the crowning moment of a coach's work.

"He took it very hard. More than ever before. You could see it on his face.

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