<p>The British federation UK Athletics announced the news Thursday, five days after Radcliffe had ran her first race in 10 months after foot surgery, winning a half marathon in New York. <br /><br />"I am devastated that I wasn't able to be ready in time to represent Britain here in Berlin, especially having got so close in such a short time frame," she said. <br /><br />"However, after having the surgery to successfully put the years of injury behind me it is very important to me that I come back to racing often and winning at 100 per cent and continue strongly and successfully through to (the Olympics in) London 2012." <br /><br />British head coach Charles van Commenee said: "To lose an athlete of Paula's calibre is disappointing to say the least. She won the world championships in 2005 and a fit Paula would clearly be in contention to regain that title, but she has taken that difficult decision and we have to respect that." <br /><br />Radcliffe, 35, holds the world record over the 42.195-kilometres distance with 2:15:25 at the 2003 London Marathon. <br /><br />However, she has always struggled at championships, with a 2005 worlds gold her only title. She has a 10,000m silver as well from 1999. <br /><br />Radcliffe did not compete at the 2008 worlds and had to settle for 23rd in the Beijing Olympics marathon last year over injury problems. <br /><br />"Running in New York this weekend was a necessary part of the process to ascertain my race fitness and after speaking with my coaching and medical team, I knew I was sadly just not quite ready," she said. </p>
<p>The British federation UK Athletics announced the news Thursday, five days after Radcliffe had ran her first race in 10 months after foot surgery, winning a half marathon in New York. <br /><br />"I am devastated that I wasn't able to be ready in time to represent Britain here in Berlin, especially having got so close in such a short time frame," she said. <br /><br />"However, after having the surgery to successfully put the years of injury behind me it is very important to me that I come back to racing often and winning at 100 per cent and continue strongly and successfully through to (the Olympics in) London 2012." <br /><br />British head coach Charles van Commenee said: "To lose an athlete of Paula's calibre is disappointing to say the least. She won the world championships in 2005 and a fit Paula would clearly be in contention to regain that title, but she has taken that difficult decision and we have to respect that." <br /><br />Radcliffe, 35, holds the world record over the 42.195-kilometres distance with 2:15:25 at the 2003 London Marathon. <br /><br />However, she has always struggled at championships, with a 2005 worlds gold her only title. She has a 10,000m silver as well from 1999. <br /><br />Radcliffe did not compete at the 2008 worlds and had to settle for 23rd in the Beijing Olympics marathon last year over injury problems. <br /><br />"Running in New York this weekend was a necessary part of the process to ascertain my race fitness and after speaking with my coaching and medical team, I knew I was sadly just not quite ready," she said. </p>