Athletics: Hansen facing operation to remove spur

Ashia Hansen has confirmed she will undergo an operation to remove a bone spur which has formed on her heel.

Hansen picked up the injury in January but it did not stop her winning the World Indoors triple-jump title in Birmingham in March, during which she had to have five pain-killing injections.

"I feel very positive about this operation," Hansen said yesterday. "It's simply a case of removing the piece of bone that shouldn't be there. Since the bone is not attached to my heel the risk of damage to this area is greatly decreased."

The 31-year-old Commonwealth and European champion plans to travel to the Netherlands later this month for treatment and has said that she expects her rehabilitation to be straightforward. Her outdoor season is planned to start in July.