• Athletics

Radcliffe stalls on racing return

ESPN staff
May 3, 2011
Paula Radcliffe has been suffering with a chest infection © Getty Images
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Paula Radcliffe has been forced to delay her long-awaited comeback after suffering a chest infection.

The marathon world record holder has withdrawn from the Great Manchester Run on May 15 after failing to recover from chest and throat infections and will now turn her focus to being fit for the London 10km event two weeks later.

Radcliffe has not raced since the 2009 New York Marathon having taken time out of the sport to have her second child, Raphael. And while the 37-year-old is frustrated to have suffered a setback so early in her return to competition, she insists she will not compromise on her health as she chases Olympic gold at next year's London 2012 Olympics.

"I'm really, really disappointed to have to pull out of the Great Manchester Run," Radcliffe said. "I have missed racing so much and was so looking forward to running in Manchester in such a vibrant event.

"However, frustrated as I am, I know that the main focus for me is next year's Olympic marathon and achieving a qualifying standard later this year.

"As an asthmatic I know that bronchitis, especially at altitude, needs to be treated with caution immediately. Therefore it is vital to get fully healthy and have a strong comeback race as soon as possible."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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