(06/04/2005)

Ethiopian distance legend Haile Gebrselassie has withdrawn from the London Marathon because of injury.

Double Olympic 10,000m champion Haile has failed to fully recover his fitness after recurring tendonitis problems in his left Achilles tendon.

Former Olympic and world champion Gezahegne Abera has also opted not to take part after he failed to make a full recovery following tendon surgery last year.

"I am really sorry to take this decision, said Gebrselassie.

"Firstly because I was really keen on running a marathon again, secondly because I am missing the opportunity of running in the greatest marathon field ever assembled in a city-marathon.

" As I have a three-year contract with London I hope to come in 2006 to achieve what I was planning for this year's edition of the Flora London Marathon."