Athletics: 3000m indoor showdown off

Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj will not defend his world 3000m indoor title in Birmingham, scuppering a much-anticipated showdown with Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia.

El Guerrouj failed on Monday to beat Gebrselassie's world indoor two-mile record of 8m 4.69s during a meet in Lievin, northern France, crossing the line in 8m 06.61s.

Afterward, El Guerrouj said he wants to focus on the outdoor world championships in Paris, starting on August 23, rather than the Birmingham event that opens on March 14.