GB doctor: 'Paula could've died'

Paula Radcliffe could have died if she had tried to stagger on to the finish line of last Sunday's Olympic marathon, according to the British athletics team doctor.

But Bryan English believes that it will be safe for Radcliffe to return to action in tonight's 10,000 metres if, as expected, she decides to attempt one of the great athletics comebacks here in the Olympic Stadium.

There was still no word from Radcliffe's camp here this morning as speculation continued to mount that she will tackle the 25-lap event just five days after stopping exhausted and in tears four miles from the finish of the marathon.

But English said today that there would have been no chance of the 30-year-old lining up tonight if she had tried to battle on to the finish on Sunday, as some of her critics have suggested.

English said: "For people to suggest that she should have ploughed on until the end of the race is quite ridiculous. People can kill themselves when they drastically overheat in marathons doing that so you have to listen to your body. Paula did exactly the right thing.

"If she'd carried on, I'm not exaggerating in saying that something terrible could have happened.

"People have killed themselves trying to finish a marathon in those sort of conditions and in that sort of physical distress.

"Those who espouse all the Corinthian stuff about the dignity of getting to the finish line, well it's nonsense. Look at the great Alberto Salazar. He overcooked himself running and never ran a marathon again."

English also revealed that Radcliffe was back to "the old Paula", laughing and joking again after the initial trauma fol lowing the race and reckoned there was now no "actual medical reason why she couldn't run".