The Diamond League event in Doha, Qatar, originally scheduled for May 8, has been postponed to June 19. According to sources, the postponement is due to the war in the Middle East and security concerns. Pole vaulter Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis was scheduled to make his outdoor season debut at the Doha event but has withdrawn.
Duplantis will follow the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs' recommendation against travel to Qatar, as reported by officials. Duplantis will compete at the Diamond League season opener in Shanghai, China, on May 16. He is getting married in Cannes on June 13-14, and sources indicate he will travel directly to Cannes from the Bauhausgalan in Stockholm on June 7 and skip the Oslo event on June 10.
Several sporting events in the region have already been canceled or postponed due to the war, according to event organizers. The Qatari athletics federation states that the safety of athletes and spectators is their top priority and they are exploring alternative solutions. A final decision on whether the Doha event will proceed will be made by April 8 at the latest, as announced by the federation.
31m in Uppsala the week before the indoor World Championships. Daniel Ståhl will also make his Diamond League season debut in Shanghai on May 16, according to his team. It remains uncertain whether the Doha event will ultimately be held on June 19 or canceled entirely, and the specific security threats in Qatar that led to the postponement and travel advisories have not been detailed.
How the postponement will affect Duplantis's training and competition schedule for the rest of the season, and whether other athletes besides Duplantis are also reconsidering participation due to security concerns, are also unclear.