Bekele withdraws from Tyneside run

DOUBLE Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele has withdrawn from the Bupa Great North Miles meeting on Tyneside on Saturday.

The Ethiopian, the first athlete to complete an Olympic 5,000 metres and 10,000m double for 28 years with his gold medal successes in Beijing, has had little chance to train.

Since closing his track season in Brussels a month ago, Bekele, who was due to face Eliud Kipchoge – the Kenyan he beat in the 5,000m in Beijing – over two miles, has been kept busy celebrating his achievement.

David Hart, communications director for the meeting, said: "Although we are obviously disappointed, we understand his situation of not wanting to run when not fully fit against world-class opposition.

"But I'm sure we'll see him racing again on Tyneside in the future and one day we'd love to see him compete in the Bupa Great North Run itself."

Meanwhile, the Kenyan pair of Asbel Kiprop and Janet Jepkosgei have pulled out of their respective mile races because of visa problems.