BBC SPORT | Athletics | Steinle pulls out of London Steinle pulls out of London
Steinle was the fastest Briton in the 2002 London Marathon
British number one Mark Steinle has been forced out of the London Marathon.
Steinle has been forced to scrap his plans to compete after being laid low by an iron deficiency.
The 28-year-old has been Britain's top finisher in London for the past three years, setting a personal best of 2:09.17 last year when he claimed eighth place.
His withdrawal means Paula Radcliffe, with her world record time of 2:17.18 set in Chicago, is faster than any British male left in the race.
Steinle's withdrawal comes after the British men's team put in a dismal showing at the World Cross Country Championships.
Only Matthew Smith managed to finish in the top 50 of the long race, grabbing 49th spot in 39:22 - nearly three-and-a-half minutes behind the winner.
The London Marathon takes place on 13 April.
Steinle was the fastest Briton in the 2002 London Marathon
British number one Mark Steinle has been forced out of the London Marathon.
Steinle has been forced to scrap his plans to compete after being laid low by an iron deficiency.
The 28-year-old has been Britain's top finisher in London for the past three years, setting a personal best of 2:09.17 last year when he claimed eighth place.
His withdrawal means Paula Radcliffe, with her world record time of 2:17.18 set in Chicago, is faster than any British male left in the race.
Steinle's withdrawal comes after the British men's team put in a dismal showing at the World Cross Country Championships.
Only Matthew Smith managed to finish in the top 50 of the long race, grabbing 49th spot in 39:22 - nearly three-and-a-half minutes behind the winner.
The London Marathon takes place on 13 April.
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