Athletics: Tulu joins Wami in cross-country exit

The double Olympic 10,000 metres champion Derartu Tulu has pulled out of the Great North Cross-Country in Newcastle on Saturday.

The Ethiopian's decision to withdraw is a second blow for the organisers of the prestigious meeting after her compatriot, Gete Wami, also pulled out due to a virus on Boxing Day. Race officials have, however, been quick to play down rumours that Tulu, the winner of a 10km road race in Doha, Qatar, early in December, had decided against running to avoid racing Britain's Paula Radcliffe.

The promoter Peter Elliott, the former Commonwealth Games 1500m champion, said: "I honestly believe Tulu isn't in the right shape, not only to take on Radcliffe but to compete on equal terms with other competitors at the moment. Yes, she did score a great victory ahead of Wami in Doha – but road-running is totally different from cross-country.

"It would have been easy for Tulu, even after her win in Doha, to have come to Tyneside, go through the motions and collect her appearance fee. But that isn't the way a woman of her stature and integrity operates. I've no hesitation in saying Tulu isn't frightened of Radcliffe or anyone else." Elliott is now hoping that another Ethiopian, the cross-country world championship runner-up Worknesh Kidane, will be able to replace Tulu. He added: "I think she will offer genuine opposition to Radcliffe."