Czech pole-vaulter Katerina Badurova, silver medal winner of the 2007 world championships in Osaka, may not be able to participate in the Beijing Olympics this summer, the Czech news agency CTK reported on Wednesday.

 

This indoor season is in fact over for Badurova as she tore her knee ligament during a training in Tenerife, Spain on Sunday, CTK said.

 

"I distorted my right knee in one of the rotations in the take-off," said Badurova.

 

Due to the injury, her participation in the Beijing Olympics is doubtful.

 

"The surgery was conducted without any complications and it was successful," doctor Martin Scheichel said.

 

Badurova cannot train for six weeks. In this type of injuries, treatment and rehabilitation may last several months, the doctor added.

 

Badurova, 26, has been dogged with injuries throughout her career. A few years ago, she had to give up her sports activities for almost two years due to problems with heel and intestines.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2008)