Mo Farah Pulls Out Of Glasgow 2014

Double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games due to illness. The London 2012 Olympic hero said he had taken the tough decision'' not to compete for England in the Glasgow Games. Farah had made good progress on his recovery from a recent illness but has chosen to focus on getting back to full fitness in time for next month's European Championships in Zurich, Team England confirmed. ''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,'' Farah said. The Londoner was expected to be one of the biggest stars of the Games and the news of his withdrawal will come as a blow to organisers. The 31-year-old athlete was due to go for gold in the 5,000 and 10,000 metre competitions in Glasgow. He 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. He had been training hard at his altitude base in Font Romeu in the Pyrenees in a bid to be fit for the Games. Farah said: ''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.'' Team England 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.''