Japan’s Yuzuru Hanyu will not defend his world title later this month, the Japan Skating Federation said on Wednesday.

Hanyu last month became the first male in 66 years to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in men’s figure skating.

The 23-year-old cast doubt on his participation in Milan after his Olympic triumph in PyeongChang, South Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

He has said repeatedly that healing the right ankle he injured in a training fall late last year was his priority.

“According to the results of a medical examination, I will be unable to take part in the worlds,” Hanyu said in a statement, thanking his fans for their support.

“I will make every effort to recover as soon as possible through treatment and rehabilitation.”

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