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South African Wayde van Niekerk has not played in any competition since 2017. Glyn KIRK / AFP

The 2019 World Championships in Athletics will be held from 27 September to 6 October in Doha. Orphans of the superstar Usain Bolt, retired tracks, these Worlds in Qatar must also deal with the absence of figures like Genzebe Dibaba, Caster Semenya or Wayde van Niekerk.

If we except a few thirty (Allyson Felix, Justin Gatlin, Renaud Lavillenie, etc.) and the size of the women's sprint, there will be few high-profile athletics stars at the 2019 World Championships. In addition, they will play without Usain Bolt for the first time since the 2003 edition. A feeling of emptiness left by the Jamaican superstar and which will be further accentuated by several other absences in Qatar.

ALMAZ AYANA

No 10000 meters in Doha for the shock melt. The Ethiopian, Olympic and world medalist on this distance, is not yet postponed a double knee surgery. It is already turned towards Tokyo 2020.

GENZEBE DIBABA

Injured with the right foot, the queen of 1,500 meters also gave up this competition. Endurance fans will not see an epic duel between the 28-year-old Ethiopian Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands.

ELIJAH MANANGOI

Another package, still on 1,500 meters, but among men. The defending champion will not defend his crown in Qatar because of an ankle injury. Bad news for a Kenyan delegation weakened by suspicions of doping.

DILSHOD NAZAROV

The Olympic champion in the hammer throw was tested positive. The Tajik is therefore temporarily suspended and deprived of Doha 2019. At 37, they may be preparing to compete in its last Worlds.

CASTER SEMENYA

Like Burundian Francine Niyonsaba and Kenyan Margaret Wambui, the South African will not be able to compete at the Worlds. The title holder over 800 meters refuses to comply with the new rules of the International Federation (IAAF). It predicts that hyperandrogenic athletes, competing in the 400 meters per mile, will take products to lower their naturally high testosterone levels.

IVANA SPANOVIC

One more injured. The long jumper threw in the towel due to a recalcitrant Achilles tendon. The 29-year-old Serb will therefore look to her next big goal: to take gold in Tokyo 2020.

WAYDE VAN NIEKERK

Bombed new superstar of athletics in 2017, the South African continues to postpone his return. Seriously injured after the London Worlds in a rugby match, the sprinter (200 and 400 meters) has not trod on the tracks in competition for two years. Will he ever find all his faculties?

RUSSIA

As in 2017, some thirty Russian athletes will be allowed to compete under neutral banner at the World Championships. The others will not have the right to go to Doha, the fault of a suspension of the Russian Federation of athletics following an endless doping scandal.