Mo Farah out of Commonwealth Games

Team England the double Olympic gold medallist had made good progress on his recovery from his illness but had withdrawn to focus on getting back to full fitness for next month’s European Championships in Zurich.

In this March 16, 2014 photo, after collapsing at the finish line, Mo Farah is comforted by his wife Tania, top centre, and tended to by others during the 2014 NYC Half marathon. Farah has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games because he has not recovered fully from a recent illness.

England’s Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games after failing to recover from a recent illness.

Double Olympic and world champion Farah intended to run either the 5000m or 10,000m, but has decided to focus on recovering in time for the European championships in Zurich from Aug. 12 to 17, an official statement said.

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. Training is getting better 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 comes a few weeks too soon for me as my body tells me it’s not ready to race yet.

“Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow.”

Team England Chef-de-Mission Jan Patterson 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. ”