Illness has forced Donegal’s Mark English to withdraw from the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Istanbul just hours before his opening race.
English was due to run in the heats of the men’s 800 metres on Thursday afternoon – but Athletics Ireland confirmed before lunchtime that the 29-year-old was pulling out because of an unspecified illness.
The Letterkenny doctor was twice a European Indoor medallist – and was leading a team of 15 athletes in Turkey this weekend.
English was generally regarded as Ireland’s best medal hope at these championships.
Kildare’s John Fitzsimmons will now be Ireland’s sole representative in the heats of the men’s 800m on Thursday afternoon.
