Radcliffe ruled out of Championships

Paula Radcliffe was left crestfallen today when she was forced to pull out of the World Athletics Championships, a withdrawal that leaves Britain's already flimsy-looking challenge in Paris in tatters.

The team's best hope for gold talked of her distress after finally being forced to concede that she was not in shape to launch an assault on her first global track title after a season disrupted by a leg injury and a bout of bronchitis. On Monday, Radcliffe had talked of her determination to compete when she was officially named for both the 5,000m and 10,000m in Paris.

Yet today, just eight days before being expected to launch Britain's challenge in the longer event on the opening day of the championships, she admitted her final training had not progressed well enough for her to do herself justice.

She was not prepared to jeopardise her hopes for next year's Olympic marathon.

Radcliffe said: "I am very, very disappointed because Paris was my main aim for the year.

"I have had my preparations interrupted this year which has left me short of time and training.

"I have come very close, but this week has shown me that I am not quite at the level that I hoped. I probably could have coped with one or other of the problems but both things left me with too much time to catch up.

"I have to be realistic and think of the bigger picture. I now have to move on and forward."

Max Jones, UK Athletics performance director, said he backed her decision but conceded her withdrawal was a body blow for a team which has already been decimated by injuries.

Medal hopes like Ashia Hansen and Dean Macey have long since pulled out while a question mark still remains over the fitness of reigning triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards.