World champion Peres Jepchirchir has withdrawn from this month’s ​London Marathon because a stress ‌fracture delayed the start of her training, race organisers said this Tuesday.

Tokyo Olympic gold medallist ​Jepchirchir won the London Marathon ⁠in 2024 and last year’s ​World Championship title.

“I was only ​able to resume training in late January,” the 32-year-old Kenyan said in ​a statement.

“I know that to ​be competitive at the London Marathon you ‌have ⁠to be at your top level and despite my best efforts, I’m just short ​of that ​due ⁠to my lack of training.”

–Reuters–