Haile will now run at the shorter distance of 10,000m in Beijing.

"The pollution in China is a threat to my health and it would be difficult for me to run 42km in my current condition," said Haile.

"But I am not pulling out of the Olympic event in Beijing all together. I plan to participate in the 10,000 m event."

"He will probably not the run the marathon in Beijing. It's not 100 percent sure but it looks like it because of the heat, humidity and the pollution," AFP quoted Jos Hermans agent as having said on Monday.

"Indeed it's 99 percent sure. He doesn't want to put his career in danger and he still wants to run at the 2012 Olympics in London."

"His dream is to run in two hours and three minutes and to be the first to do that. It's more important for him than to win another gold medal."

Last year Britain's Paula Radcliffe called in pollution experts to help her plans to run in the Games marathon.

At the time her husband and manager Gary Lough told BBC Sport that Radcliffe, who suffers from exercise-induced asthma, may have to change her medication in China.

The International Olympic Committee has already voiced concern over distance events at the Olympics in August and has said that the marathons could be called off if the conditions posed a danger to athletes' health.

R--6:00-6:23 Pm

E--6:23-6:30

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