Gebreselassie has set his sights on running a marathon in the autumn
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Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie has ruled out competing at August's World Championships in Helsinki.
The 32-year-old has won four world 10,000m titles but is now focusing on the marathon - although he will not enter that event either at the worlds.
"I'm not going to run any more major championship races on the track," Gebreselassie said.
"I might run just one more track race this year, but now I want to
concentrate on the marathon distance."
Gebreselassie has not decided where to begin his marathon career in earnest.
The double Olympic 10,000m champion was set to race in April's London Marathon but had to pull out with an Achilles injury.
And while Gebrselassie has already committed to the London endurance event for the next two years, he is unsure where he can fit in a race during the autumn.
"I will be speaking with my manager in a few days' time when we might make the decision," said Gebrselassie.
"But where it will be, I don't know. It could be in Europe or the United States."
The Berlin Marathon is held in September and that is where Kenya's Paul Tergat set his world record. While Chicago and New York stage high-profile marathons in October and November respectively.
Gebrselassie made his debut over 26.2 miles in the 2002 London Marathon, where he finished third.
The Ethiopian running great made his farewell to track racing at major championships after finishing fifth in the Olympic 10,000m final in Athens.
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