Addis Abeba — Marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie said on Monday he would not compete in the Olympic marathon because of fears that Beijing's air pollution would damage his health.

But denying reports he will not go to Biejing, his Manager Richard Neirurka said Haile was not pulling out of the Olympic event in Beijing all together.

He said Haile plans to participate in the 10,000 m event.

According to Richard, Haile, after his last marathon in Dubai some eight months ago, had said he may not compete in the marathon in the August Games, and for a number of reasons.

" First and foremast, Haile aspires to break his own record and it woud be difficult to do that in China, given the reported air pollution there," Richard told The Daily Monitor by telephone.

"Secondly, China will again be difficult for him on heath aspects," Haile's Manager added.

Haile suffers from asthma.

"The pollution in China is a threat to his health and it would be difficult for him to run 42 km in his current condition," Richard said.

What's more, he continued, it is unusual that an athlete would reppeat victory in two consecutive marathon events.Richard also rejected as rubbish reports that Haile was responding to Western pressures over the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

The two-time Olympic 10,000m gold medalist opted to run in that event in Beijing Olympic.

Haile first earned gold in Atlanta in 1996. His thrilling second gold was earned in Sydney in 2000 beating the Kenyan Paul Tergat in a fraction of seconds in the last gasp.

After finishing a disappointing fight in the Athens Olympics in 2004, Haile turned in to a marathon runner in which he succeeded to set a new world record in Berlin last year at a time of 2:04:29 seconds.

Alas, gainst expectations and hopes that he would repeat that feat in Beijing in August, he once again changed his mind to run on the track fearing a possible health problem if he take part in the grueling 42km marathon race in China under the scorching sun and polluted air.