China’s star hurdler Liu Xiang has pulled out the 2012 London Diamond League meeting after suffering from a bad back.

Liu had cruised into the 110 meter hurdles final at Crystal Palace after winning his heat in 13.27 seconds, but was unable to take his place on the starting line after suffering back strain. The final was won by American star Aries Merritt, who defied the cool, overcast conditions to equal his own season’s best of 12.93 seconds.

As one of China’s biggest sports stars, the "Chinese Fly Man" Liu Xiang will be competing for Olympic gold in London in just a few weeks time.