I will double in 2020 – Fraser-Pryce

DOHA, Qatar:

World 100 metres champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce clarified the decision to skip the 200m event at the World Championships in Doha and confirmed she will be competing in both events next season.

Fraser-Pryce told reporters, shortly after winning the 100m title inside the Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday, that she had been pulled from the half-lap event by her coach Stephen Francis.

The Jamaican, who has an Olympic silver and a World Championships gold in the 200m, however, made it clear that the decision to withdraw from the event was a precautionary one, given the length of the season and the fact that she is still working her way back after giving birth two years ago.

"I am definitely focusing on the 100m and 200m for next year," said Fraser-Pryce.

"Coach (Francis) believed that this year I was not fully back and he did not want to pressure me into doing the double. He believed that I still have some work to do in terms of my endurance and he didn't want to take the risk with Tokyo (Olympics) being less than a year away and he made that decision," Fraser-Pryce added.

Fraser-Pryce, who has a personal best of 22.09 in the event, which makes her the ninth fastest Jamaican in history over the distance, said she was looking forward to competing in the event in Doha, but that she understands and trusts her coach's judgement.

"At first I was not too pleased about the decision. I wanted to do the 200m here, I am always up for a challenge. I believe as athletes sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone and go after things we have never done before and I wanted to do it but I understand," said Fraser-Pryce.

Fraser-Pryce's season's best of 22.22 makes her the fifth best athlete in the event here at the World Championships.