The German broke both the tibia and fibula in his left leg after a crash during training in Zillertal.

He immediately underwent surgery and is now in physiotherapy, but it has been confirmed that he will not be in competitive action again this term.

The 29-year-old may be able to make a tentative return to the slopes in six weeks time but he must now focus on the 2017-2018 season, which will include the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang in South Korea.

"It happened very quickly," said Dopfer.

"I lost control over my skis during a warm-up run and I crashed."

Dopfer added: "The outcome of this crash is bitter. 

"People who know me can tell that I surmounted other setbacks in my career. 

"So I will tackle rehabilitation with discipline, as I always did, in order to be competitive again in the Olympic season."

Dopfer won World Championship silver in the slalom in Beaver Creek in the United States in 2015.

He also won a bronze medal in the team event in the 2013 World Championships in Schladming in Austria.

In the two FIS World Cup races held already this season, he came joint eighth in the slalom in Finnish resort Levi, after a 27th place giant slalom finish in Solden in Austria.

The German holds the record for the most World Cup podium placings without a victory, which stands at nine.