Injured Gebrselassie pulls out of London marathon

Twice Olympic 10,000 metres champion Haile Gebrselassie has pulled out of the London marathon on April 17 because of an injured Achilles tendon.

In a statement yesterday, organisers said Gebrselassie's fellow-Ethiopian and world champion Gezahegne Abera had also withdrawn from the 25th edition of the world's most prestigious marathon with a similar injury.

Gebrselassie, who retired from the track after finishing fifth in last year's Athens 10,000 metres final, said although the problem had now cleared he had missed too much training.

"I am really sorry to take this decision because I'm missing the opportunity of running in the greatest marathon field ever assembled in a city marathon," he said.

Abera, who was unable to defend his Olympic title because of injury, said he had been training well after surgery last year but had not reached the level necessary to run in London.

World record holder Paul Tergat of Kenya and Olympic champion Stefano Baldini from Italy are the leading contenders left in the London marathon.