World record holder Ruth Chepngetich has pulled out of the London Marathon along with defending champion Peres Jepchirchir.
Kenya’s Chepngetich, 30, became the first woman to clock a sub-two hour 10 minute time at the 2024 Chicago marathon, but said she was not ready for next weekend’s race.
Chepngetich said she was “very sad to miss the race” but she hoped “to be back” for the London Marathon in 2026.
“I’m not in the right place mentally or physically to race my best in London and I am therefore withdrawing,” she added.
Fellow Kenyan Jepchirchir, who won last year’s London Marathon in a record time of two hours 16 minutes 16 seconds, will miss the race with an ankle injury.
“Winning last year’s London Marathon was one of the highlights of my career and I was very much looking forward to returning this year to defend my title,” 31-year-old Jepchirchir said.
“Unfortunately, my injury has made this impossible but I am focused on getting healthy again and hope to return to London again in the future when I’m fully fit.”
In the absence of Chepngetich and Jepchirchir organisers have announced that their compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot will take a spot in the elite field.
Cheruiyot, 41, has run the London Marathon three times and won it in 2018.
