Former Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce dramatically PULLS OUT of 100m as Sha'Carri Richardson eases into the final in Paris

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a two-time 100m Olympic champion, dramatically pulled out of the semifinals on Saturday.

The Jamaican sprinter, who won the 100m at both the Beijing and London Games, left an empty lane alongside US sensation Sha'Carri Richardson.

Her absence was announced only minutes before Richardson booked her place in the final in front of Serena Williams and Snoop Dogg.

Fraser-Pryce was aiming to secure a 100m medal at a fifth consecutive Olympic Games, having finished on the podium in Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo.

But her hopes of another gold were ended when she withdrew from the competition in mysterious circumstances. 

It was later claimed that Fraser-Pryce, who turns 38 later this year, pulled out because of a hamstring injury.

According to reports, the sprinter suffered the issue during her warm-up ahead of Saturday's semi-final.

There were no such problems for Richardson, who booked her place in a first ever Olympic final after coming second behind Julien Alfred of St Lucia.

For the first time since London 2012, there will be three American women going for gold in the 100m final, with Melissa Jefferson and TeeTee Terry alongside Richardson.