20 August 2009

UKA today announced Paula Radcliffe’s withdrawal from the Aviva GB and NI team ahead of this week’s IAAF World Championship marathon in Berlin.

World record holder Radcliffe, had been recovering well from forefoot surgery, however her recent  test outing at the New York half marathon confirmed concerns she was not yet quite ready to compete 100% over  a full marathon.

Radcliffe said: “I am devastated that I wasn’t able to be ready in time to represent Britain here in Berlin, especially having got so close in such a short time frame. However after having the surgery to successfully put the years of injury behind me it is very important to me that I come back to racing often and winning at 100% and continue strongly and successfully through to London 2012.

"It has been great to be here and to spend time with the team, which has performed so well so far, and I look forward to being part of it again in the near future. Running in New York this weekend was a necessary part of the process to ascertain my race fitness and after speaking with my coaching and medical team, I knew I was sadly just not quite ready.”

UKA Head Coach Charles van Commenee said: “To lose an athlete of Paula’s calibre is disappointing to say the least.  She won the World Championships in 2005 and a fit Paula would clearly be in contention to regain that title, but she has taken that difficult decision and we have to respect that.