Ethiopian long distance great had been due to bid farewell to competitive running at the Glasgow event

Haile Gebrselassie has withdrawn from the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run at which he had been due to race the 10km on Sunday (October 4).

The Ethiopian long distance great's eldest sister is seriously ill and Gebrselassie understandably wishes to be with her and other family members in Addis Ababa over the coming days, so will not be making the trip to Glasgow.

"I am sorry to not be able to come to Glasgow but I must be with my sister now," said Gebrselassie.

"I hope people will understand and I promise to come back soon."

Following his announcement earlier this year that he would be retiring from competitive running, the 42-year-old had been set to bid farewell to racing in the Scottish city on his return to an event at which he won the half-marathon race in 2013.

"Our thoughts are with Haile's sister and the family," said Brendan Foster, chairman of event organisers The Great Run Company. "Of course we understand that Haile needs to be with them in Addis Ababa now."