Olympic, world and European discus champion Robert Harting has ruled himself out of the forthcoming World Championships in Beijing.

The German has not competed in a major meet since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament 11 months ago, and is unwilling to put his place at Rio 2016 in jeopardy by returning too soon.

Harting - who ran the 100m hurdles after sealing Olympic gold in 2012 - has dominated the past three World Championships, claiming his third-successive gold with a throw of 69.11 in Moscow two years ago.

"Unfortunately, this [competing at the worlds] is absolutely not possible," he said. "If I went back and tore my ACL, I would not be able to start in 2016 in Rio."

Harting is the second defending champion to pull out of this month's event after New Zealand's Valerie Adams withdrew from the shot-put due to an elbow injury.