by Our Sports Desk

CHAMPION runner Mo Farah pulled out of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow yesterday on the opening day of the competition.

Farah made the “tough decision” to withdraw to focus on getting back to full fitness for the European Championships, which take place in Zurich next month.

The 31-year-old, who was to compete in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, said his body wasn’t “ready to race.”

He was previously forced to pull out of the Glasgow Grand Prix at Hampden Park and last Sunday’s Anniversary Games after being admitted to hospital in the US with abdominal pains.

Farah, who had been training at his altitude base in the Pyrenees, said: “The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me.

“Training is getting better here in Font Romeu, but I need another few weeks to get back to the level I was at in 2012 and 2013.

“I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it’s not ready to race yet. Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow.”

The 5,000m final takes place on the first evening of the athletics programme on Sunday.

Farah was set to be one of the biggest names in Glasgow, but without him the England team features just one member of the golden trio who won Olympic titles in 2012 — long jumper Greg Rutherford.

But he has himself withdrawn from his last two competitions for fitness reasons after struggling with a knee problem.

On top of that Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Jessica Ennis-Hill’s heir apparent in the heptathlon, was forced out of the games by a foot injury just three days ago.

With the injured Yohan Blake also absent, Usain Bolt and David Rudisha will be the only two global athletics stars on show at Hampden Park — and Bolt is only competing in the 4x100m relay.