Veterinary surgeon on stand-by in case Radcliffe can't cut it in Beijing

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Paula Radcliffe: Performances bring privileges

Both will be kitted out by the British Olympic Association but it will be UKA who fund Haining’s trip in order to give Radcliffe the longest possible time for recuperation before making a decision on her fitness to run in the Olympic marathon.

Only one of them will fly into Beijing just two or three days before the race.

Radcliffe visited the British Olympic Medical Centre yesterday for a regular check to chart the rehabilitation of her stress fracture in the left femur. She returned immediately to her training base in the French Pyrenees.

'I’m going back to continue my training but, yes, it is going to be a race against time.’

Two months ago specialists told her it would be a miracle if she was able to run in the Olympics but she has refused to accept their assessment and trained by jogging in a swimming pool and on a £35,000 anti-gravity treadmill which reduces weight by 80 per cent.

Before any decision is taken, UKA’s rules demand that she runs 15km at a good marathon pace in the presence of one of their endurance managers, probably their director Alan Storey.

UKA’s performance director Dave Collins said: ‘If I thought she was the type of person who was stringing us along I wouldn’t be granting her this privilege. Her professionalism and commitment have earned it.

'Performances bring privileges but at the end of the day I don’t think she is going to go for the T-shirt.’