An ill-timed injury after his world indoor record of 6.16m in Donetsk means that France s Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie is not able to defend his title won in Istanbul.

Three-time world champion Gabriela Szabo has been appointed as the minister of youth and sport in the proposed structure of Romania s new government.

Blanka Vlasic has returned from injury and leapt 2.00m in Prague last week, so the two-time former world indoor and outdoor champion will be looking to make amends for missing both the 2012 Olympic Games and the World Championships last summer.

Multiple world record-holder Kenenisa Bekele will clash for the first time with marathon world record-holder Wilson Kipsang on 18 May at the Great Manchester Run, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Ivan Ukhov has been a man on a mission in the wake of his failure to make the podium on home ground at the World Championships in Moscow last August.

Kenya s Evans Kipkosgei Ruto will return to the TUI Marathon Hannover on 27 April to take on Ethiopia s Mekuant Ayenew at the IAAF Silver Label Road Race.