Toronto mayor Rob Ford, who gained global notoriety last year for admitting he smoked crack cocaine, has dropped out of the race for re-election as mayor.
He was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour this week.
A city clerk told reporters that Mr Ford's nomination had been withdrawn just ahead of a deadline for ballot changes to the 27 October election.
His elder brother, Doug Ford, has replaced him on the mayoral ballot according to the city of Toronto website.
The mayor's nephew Michael Ford also withdrew his nomination for election to city council.
That has cleared the way for Rob Ford to run for city council instead in that district.
The mayor was hospitalised on Wednesday after complaining of abdominal pain.
In 2009, doctors removed a tumour from his appendix and the then city councillor returned to work in good health.
