Alistair Brownlee will miss the rest of the season due to injury ©Getty Images

Double Olympic men’s triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee has confirmed he will take no further part in the 2017 season because he is having surgery on a hip injury.

The Briton who won the golds at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games confirmed the news on social media.

Brownlee said it was a hard choice to make, but one that he feels is the correct one to take.

“After years of struggling with a chronic hip problem, I go under the knife,” he said on Instagram.

“It has been a tough decision but suffering from an acute flare I am left with little option.

“Unfortunately it will take me away from competing for the rest of the year but I hope it will enable me to continue doing what I love for many years to come.

“In the mean time I'll get to enjoy a bit of Yorkshire relaxation which is a rare treat.”

Alistair Brownlee and his younger brother Jonny won gold and silver medals at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
Alistair Brownlee and his younger brother Jonny won gold and silver medals at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

Since his success in Rio, the 29-year-old has turned his attention to Ironman triathlons.

He won on his Ironman 70.3 event debut at the North American Championships in May.

Brownlee has still featured in normal triathlon competition as well, winning the World Triathlon Series (WTS) event in Leeds in June.

His younger brother Jonny, who won the bronze medal at London 2012 and silver at Rio 2016, is due to feature in the WTS event in Montreal later today.