Illness knocks Fionnuala Britton out of World Athletics Championships

Ireland’s double European Cross-Country Champion Fionnuala Britton will miss next month’s World Athletics Championships in Moscow after announcing she is to take an “extended break” from the sport.

Britton missed last month’s European Team Championships at Morton Stadium due to a chest infection, and the length of time it has taken her to get over it has led her team to withdraw her from all competition for the time being.

It is intended that Britton will be back in full health for an attempt on defending her European Cross-Country crown in Belgrade in December.

The Wicklow athlete finished fourth in the 10000m at last year’s European Championships in Helsinki, and followed up her second European Cross-Country title in Budapest by claiming bronze in the 3000m at the European Indoors in Gothenburg in March.

Britton’s decision was made after consulting with Athletics Ireland’s medical team, and her coach Chris Jones, who also serves at national endurance coach.

In a statement released just before noon, Jones said: “We are withdrawing Fionnuala from competitive competition for the rest of the track season.

“Fionnuala has taken longer than anticipated to get over the recent chest infection which ruled her out of the European Team Track and Field Championships.

“We are not willing to take any unnecessary risks and we have worked closely with the medical team with a view of having Fionnuala back to full health for the cross country season.

“Fionnuala has returned to running this week and we will continue to monitor her as she returns to full fitness.”

Meanwhile, Olympic 800m champion and world record holder David Rudisha will also be missing Moscow.

Rudisha, who thrilled the Olympic Stadium in London by shattering his own world record to claim London 2012 gold, is suffering from a knee injury.

He missed the Kenyan trials at the weekend and was left out of the Kenyan team named Sunday with the promise that selectors would monitor his condition.

However, Rudisha now appears that he will not be fit in time.