Reigning world decathlon champion Pierce LePage will not compete at this week’s Canadian Olympic trials in Montreal because of a medical exemption, CBC’s Devin Heroux reported Tuesday.
Heroux reported that exemptions are given out only if an athlete has an injury or illness.
LePage has been considered a strong contender for the podium at the Paris Olympics alongside fellow Canadian Damian Warner, but the former has competed in only outdoor event this season.
LePage, from Whitby, Ont., did not compete at the prestigious Hypo Meeting in Götzis, Austria, in May.
LePage’s absence raises questions about his availability for the Paris Games.
The 28-year-old LePage won gold at last year’s world championships and silver the year before.
Warner won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and silver at last year’s worlds.