MONTE CARLO. Aug 7: World champion Michael Johnson has been given the all clear to compete in the IAAF Golden League meeting in Zurich on August 11 and defend his 400m title at the World Championships in Seville. Spain, later this month, it was announced here on Friday, reports AFP.

There had been fears that the 31-year-old American might miss the World Championships after he drew up with a hamstring pain halfway through the 400m during the Grand Prix meeting at Stockholm last week.

After receiving treatment in the United States. Johnson, nicknamed "Waco Express", was given the all clear to compete in Zurich and to bid to achieve his fourth consecutive 400m title in Seville.

Injury problems have prevented Johnson, 1996 Olympic 200m and 400m champion, from performing at his best in the lead-up to the World Championships.

He opted for the 200m at the IAAF Grand Prix II meeting at Linz, Austria. last month and almost suffered a shock defeat, scraping home by two-hundredths of a second.