Radcliffe to miss half marathon world championships

Radcliffe will join an elite field for the London 10,000m road race on 30 May (GETTY IMAGES)

Three-times former champion Paula Radcliffe has withdrawn from next weekend's world half marathon championships in Birmingham because of illness.

The injury-prone 35-year-old, who also withdrew from the marathon at the recent world championships in Berlin because of problems associated with foot surgery, has tonsillitis.

"I'm devastated not to be able to compete in Birmingham this weekend. The World Half Marathon is a great opportunity for our athletes to compete in front of a home crowd and I'm disappointed I can't be part of that," Radcliffe said in a UKA statement.

"It's very important to me to be able to pull on a GB vest and do my best in a major championship, but unfortunately, having developed tonsillitis over the weekend, I'm now on a course of antibiotics."

Radcliffe, the women's marathon world record holder, will be replaced in the British team by first reserve Michelle Ross-Cope.