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| Mo Farah pulls out of Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because of illness | Mo Farah pulls out of Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because of illness |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow owing to illness, and will focus instead on recovering for the European Championships in Zurich. | Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow owing to illness, and will focus instead on recovering for the European Championships in Zurich. |
| The news is a major blow to the Games, coming the morning after they launched the event with a spectacular opening ceremony at Celtic Park. | The news is a major blow to the Games, coming the morning after they launched the event with a spectacular opening ceremony at Celtic Park. |
| Team England said Farah, 31, would remain at his training base in Font Romeu, rather than travel to Glasgow where he was due to compete in the 5,000m and 10,000m. | Team England said Farah, 31, would remain at his training base in Font Romeu, rather than travel to Glasgow where he was due to compete in the 5,000m and 10,000m. |
| Farah had pulled out of his last two races – the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix at Hampden Park and last Sunday’s Anniversary Games in London – after being admitted to hospital in the US with abdominal pains. | Farah had pulled out of his last two races – the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix at Hampden Park and last Sunday’s Anniversary Games in London – after being admitted to hospital in the US with abdominal pains. |
| Farah said: “I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games. 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. | Farah said: “I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games. 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.” | “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.” |
| Team England’s chef de mission Jan Paterson said: “It is a real blow for any athlete to miss out on a major championships through injury, but to have fought so hard to regain full fitness and to have to take such a difficult decision at this stage is particularly hard. We wish Mo all the very best and hope to see him back to his peak very soon.” | Team England’s chef de mission Jan Paterson said: “It is a real blow for any athlete to miss out on a major championships through injury, but to have fought so hard to regain full fitness and to have to take such a difficult decision at this stage is particularly hard. We wish Mo all the very best and hope to see him back to his peak very soon.” |
| Glasgow 2014’s chief executive David Grevemberg admitted Farah’s absence was a blow. “There’s no question we’re disappointed that Mo Farah announced he would be withdrawing. | |
| “We’re very disappointed for Mo. We knew how much he wanted to be here. I’m sure there will be some disappointed people, but there are plenty of great athletes who are here and will be competing.” | |
| Farah’s pulling out comes three days after another big draw, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, the new mother Jessica Ennis-Hill’s heir apparent, was forced out by a foot injury. | |
| Farah, who is in the Great Britain team for the 5,000m and 10,000m for the Europeans, which get under way on 12 August, has raced only once on the track this year - over 5,000m at the Portland Track Festival in June. | |
| His previous race had been a chastening marathon debut on the streets of London when he came home in eighth place. |