Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympic 100-meter champion, dramatically bowed out of the semi-finals on Saturday.
The Jamaican sprinter, who won the 100 metres at the Beijing and London Games, left an empty lane alongside American sensation Sha’Carri Richardson.
Her absence was announced just minutes before Richardson booked her place in the final against Serena Williams and Snoop Dogg.
Fraser-Pryce was aiming for a 100m medal at her fifth consecutive Olympics, having finished on the podium in Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo.
But her hopes of another gold medal ended when she withdrew from the competition under mysterious circumstances.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce dramatically withdrew from the 100m semi-finals in Paris on Saturday
American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson booked her place in her first Olympic final
It was later claimed Fraser-Pryce, who turns 38 later this year, had pulled out due to a hamstring injury.
The sprinter reportedly suffered the problem during her warm-up ahead of Saturday’s semi-final.
But Richardson had no such problems and booked her place in her first Olympic final after finishing second behind Julien Alfred of St. Lucia.
For the first time since London 2012, there will be three American women competing for gold in the 100m final, with Melissa Jefferson and TeeTee Terry joining Richardson.