London 2012 star pulls out of Glasgow 2014 due to fitness issue.
Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has dealt a blow to Team England by withdrawing from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The 31-year-old distance runner, who won gold over 5,000m and 10,000m in London two years ago, suffered a bout of sickness earlier this month, forcing him to pull out of the Glasgow Grand Prix with abdominal pains.
Farah still does not feel fully ready for competition.
He has therefore decided to remain at his training base in Font Romeu in an attempt to raise his fitness levels in preparation the European Championships in Zurich.
“I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games,” The Guardian quotes Farah as saying.
“The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me. Training is getting better here in Font Romeu but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013.
“I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it’s not ready to race yet. Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow.”
Farah will be hoping to win 5,000m gold for a third consecutive European Championships, having triumphed in Barcelona in 2010 and in Helsinki two years later.
Team GB hero Farah also won 10,000m gold in Barcelona.
He has never won a medal at a Commonwealth Games, finishing ninth over 5,000m at Melbourne 2006.
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