French long-jumper Salim Sdiri was rushed to hospital after being speared by a javelin thrown by Finland's Tero Pitkamaki at the IAAF Golden League meeting in Rome.

The accident occurred in the third round of the javelin when Pitkamaki, challenging to defend his Golden Jackpot title, saw his throw veer to the left.

Leaving the throwing arcs it hit the 28-year-old Frenchman, who was lying fourth in his competition, in his right side.

An ambulance arrived and the 2004 Olympic finalist taken to the meeting's media mix zone where, 15 minutes after the incident, he received urgent medical treatment before being taken to hospital.

Fortunately his condition was not considered to be life-threatening but the incident overshadowed the whole meeting, where Asafa Powell returned from a groin injury with a superb 100 metres display.