Two-time champion Paula Radcliffe has pulled out of this weekend's IAAF World Cross-Country Championships in Brussels through injury.
Radcliffe injured her right hamstring during a training session last Sunday and immediately sought medical advice. Last night Radcliffe, who won long-course titles in 2001 and 2002, was forced to withdraw.
She said: "I went for my usual long run on Sunday morning and everything was okay. Then in the evening I went for a light run and felt a stiffening in my hamstring and knew I needed treatment."
Radcliffe underwent treatment at her local UK Athletics high performance centre in a bid to make Saturday's eight-kilometre race. The injury was responding well to treatment but a major problem remained. Radcliffe added: "I found it impossible to run uphill and in a cross country race there will always be plenty of them. Now it's case of getting back into training. That should be shortly as it isn't a serious injury."
It is another blow to the favourite for this year's Olympic marathon title, whose career has been badly disrupted since winning last April's Flora London Marathon. Following her world record win in London, Radcliffe missed last summer's world championships - where she was favourite for the 5,000m or 10,000m gold - with a leg injury.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
