World record holder of men's 3,000m steeplechase Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar has pulled out of the 15th Asian Games due to injury on Achilles tendon.

Shaheen, who is the reigning world champion in the 3,000m steeplechase, was the favorite to win the event, as well as the 5,000m race in Doha.

"He's definitely injured but there is more information to come," Mohammed Suleiman, manager of Qatar's athletics team, said on Thursday.

"All the countries and regions and all the people at the Games will be disappointed. But when you have an injury, what can you do?"

Shaheen's manager Ricky Simms confirmed his absence from the Asian pageant. "He just can't run. There's no real decision to be made. He's limping when he's running," said Simms.

"He's had problems with his Achilles on and off since the end of the track season. When athletes are competing at an elite level in the steeplechase, there is always going to be the chance of injuries, which is the nature of the event. He has been receiving treatment in Kenya and been to Europe twice for the same reason," added Simms.

Shaheen has raced selectively with a lot of success this year both on the track and over cross-country.