MO FARAH insisted he had no choice but to pull out of the Commonwealth Games through illness, as more of the star quality due to be on show in Glasgow disappeared.

The morning after the Games opened with a spectacular ceremony at Celtic Park, the double Olympic and world champion dealt organisers a major blow by announcing the “tough decision” to withdraw.

The 31-year-old, who was due to go for gold over 5,000 and 10,000 metres, has made progress in his recovery from the illness which forced him out of his last two races, but said his body was not ready to race.

Instead, the Londoner, who pulled out of the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix at Hampden Park and last Sunday’s Anniversary Games after being admitted to hospital in the United States with abdominal pains, has opted to focus on getting back to full fitness in time for next month’s European Championships in Zurich.

Farah, who had been training hard 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.”