Double Olympic champion Mo Farah will headline proceedings when the IAAF Diamond League season begins in Qatar on Friday.

The Great Britain long distance runner will be the star attraction in the men's 3,000m race as the 2015 program begins in Doha. 

Farah, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m events at the 2012 London Olympics, is excited to be competing at the event.

"I've heard so many great things about the track, the crowd and the competition in Doha," he said.

"There are always very strong fields in the distances so this will be a great early season test on the track."

Farah, who is also the world champion at both the 5,000m and 10,000m, will come up against Kenya's Isaiah Kiplangat - who won bronze as Farah claimed gold at the 2013 World Athletics Championships.

Organisers received a blow when it was confirmed that Olympic pole vault champion Renaud Lavillenie would not compete in the meet.

The world record holder was set to feature, but has not travelled to Qatar after suffering a shoulder injury in a fall during a 4x100m relay at a national clubs competition in Lyon on Sunday.

The Frenchman's injury is not serious, but his absence will be noteworthy. Lavillenie was the IAAF's male world athlete of the year for 2014.

Despite Lavillenie's absence, the likes of Justin Gatlin, Nesta Carter, Sally Pearson and Allyson Fenix will ensure there is plenty of star-power on show.

Dahlan Al Hamad, president of Qatar's Athletics Federation, said the organisation had met their end of the bargain by securing the attendance of several of athletics' biggest names.

"IDL Doha 2015 will once again be a marvellous athletics experience for everyone involved," Al Hamad said.

"We always keep our promise to bring to our state the world's best athletes and this is exactly what we are doing this year as well."

American sprinter Gatlin - the 2004 Olympic champion over 100m - clocked a stunning 9.77seconds over the distance last year. He did not lose any of his 15 100m races last year and was also fastest over 200m in 2014.

Whether 2015 can be as big remains to be seen, with compatriot Mike Rodgers and Jamaican Carter - gold medallist in the 4x100m relay - seen as his biggest rivals.

American Fenix was the 200m Olympic champion in 2012 and her progress will be monitored closely while Australian Pearson - who won gold in the 100m hurdles in London three years ago - will also command attention.