Posted: October 26, 2005

Athletics: Ceplak Undergoes Surgery, Will Skip Indoor Season

From David Monti

© 2005 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA -- Reigning Olympic 800m bronze medallist Jolanda Ceplak of Slovenia underwent surgery earlier this week to correct what was finally diagnosed as the underlying cause of an Achilles tendon injury that frustrated her throughout the 2005 season.

An examination on Monday by Austrian physician, Dr. Christian Schenk, found that a bone was aggravating her tendon, a condition, he determined, that required immediate attention.

"When Jolanda visited Dr. Schenk [Monday] morning," said Ceplak's manager, Robert Wagner, "he diagnosed a protruding bone on the back of her heal which slowly, but constantly was rubbing off the Achilles tendon from the inside. The surgery was so urgent that they operated on her the same evening."

Scheduled to leave the clinic today, the 29-year-old Ceplak, the reigning European outdoor 800m champion and indoor World record holder in the event, will not be able to run for at least six weeks. She can resume full training, Wagner said, in about 10 weeks.

For more, please see the remainder of the story published on the IAAF website at: IAAF.org.