Gebrselassie pulls out of Olympic marathon

18:29 Mon 10 March 2008

Controversy is again dominating the build up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Superchamp Haile Gebrselassie has decided to pull out of the Olympic marathon over concerns about the level of air pollution in Beijing. The marathon world record holder suffers from asthma, which forced him out of last year's London marathon.

Speaking to reporters the Ethiopian runner said: "The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42km in my current condition. But I am not pulling out of the Olympics all together". Instead the 34-year-old runner hopes instead to compete in the 10,000m at Beijing.

It's also widely reported that the powers that be over at the International Olympic Committee have voiced their concern over the issue of air pollution at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Well, it's a tad late to start having second thoughts now chaps.

Haile Gebrselassie: Record Marathon Berlin 2007