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Radcliffe out of Paris
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Published 15/08/2003 at 15:53 GMT+1
World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe has withdrawn from the world championships, UK Athletics said on Friday. And while Radcliffe won't be there eurosport.com will be - Bringing you all the action from the Stade de France LIVE every day starting n
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Radcliffe, who ran a world record two hours 15 minutes 25 seconds in defending her London marathon title in April, had been scheduled to run both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the Paris championships that run from August 23-31.
"I am very, very disappointed because Paris was my main aim for the year," said Radcliffe. "I have had my preparations interrupted this year which has left me short of time and training."
The 29-year-old suffered a shin injury in June and then struggled with bronchitis in July.
"I probably could have coped with one or other of the problems, but both things left me with too much time to catch up," she added in a statement.
UK Athletics performance director Max Jones said Radcliffe's withdrawal was a disappointment but he supported her decision.
"This is a blow...because at the start of the year, Paula was a clear favourite to win gold," said Jones in a statement. "However, I am fully behind her decision to withdraw because I would not want her to compete if she is not 100 per cent.
"Paula is still the number one female long distance runner in the world and now has goals to aim for this winter and in Athens next year."
Radcliffe, who seemed doomed to finish behind the fleet-footed Africans on the track, set the fastest time ever by a debutant in last year's London marathon.
She went on to break the mark in Chicago and reduced it further in London in April.
Last year she translated her form on the roads to the track, breaking the European 10,000 metres record by more than 12 seconds at the Munich European championships and coming close to the world 5,000 mark at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
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