World record holder Radcliffe out of London Marathon

Britain's Paula Radcliffe was on Thursday ruled out of next month's London Marathon with a broken toe and will contemplate surgery in order to be fully fit for August's world championships in Berlin. World record holder Radcliffe, who was aiming to win her fourth London title on April 26, sustained an injury to her right second toe while altitude training in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Tuesday. "I am desperately disappointed that I have to pull out of this year's race," Radcliffe, who was London Marathon champion in 2002, 2003 and 2005," said in a statement. "I was looking forward to running in front of the amazing crowds of spectators in London that always offer such great support." She added: "I am considering surgery to get myself totally healthy as soon as physically possible and ultimately prevent the bunion causing any future problems." Race director David Bedford said of the withdrawal of 2005 world marathon champion Radcliffe: "This is a major blow for Paula. I know how much she wanted to run here this year but luck just does not seem to be on her side. "Paula's priority must now be to get fully fit hopefully for the World Championships and we wish her all the best for a speedy recovery. "Even without Paula, however, the elite women's field is still one of the strongest we've ever had in London and I am sure the race will be a superb spectacle," the former world 10,000m record holder added. The women's field includes defending London champion Irina Mikitenko of Germany, Romania's Olympic champion Constantina Dita and Kenya's Olympic silver medallist Catherine Ndereba. Also set to be involved are China's Olympic bronze medallist and 2007 London winner Zhou Chunxiu and Ethiopian record holder Berhane Adere, twice winner of the Chicago Marathon as well as Adere's compatriot Gete Wami, the 2007 World Marathon Majors champion who was third in London last year. British interest is maintained by Mara Yamauchi, sixth in last year's Olympic Games marathon in Beijing. The 35-year-old Radcliffe, despite being the dominant force in women's marathon running for several years, has never won Olympic gold. Last year she failed to overcome the effects of a stress fracture in her left thigh and finished down the field in 23rd place in Beijing. Even that was an improvement upon her performance at the 2004 Athens Games where she withdrew in tears half-way through the race. However, Radcliffe has repeatedly insisted she will be able to compete at the 2012 Games in London when she will be the same age - 38 - as Tomescu was when she won in Beijing.

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