England’s Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games after failing to recover from a recent illness.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 was intending to run either the 5000m or 10,000m, but has decided to focus on recovering in time for the European athletics championships that take place in Zurich from 12-17 August.

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 for me. 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,” the Team England website quoted him as sayiing. The 31-year-old Farah won 5000m and 10,000m gold at both the London 2012 Olympic Games and the 2013 IAAF World Athletics Championships.

He also won 5000m gold and 10,000m silver at the 2011 world championships and double gold at the 2010 European athletic championships. 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.”