Ethiopia's defending champion, who dropped out of the 10,000m final shortly before the halfway point, is already back in Addis Ababa after deciding not to seek what would be a fifth consecutive world title at the distance.

Bekele had not raced competitively for 14 months before Sunday's race, which he was able to take part in using his wild card as defending champion.


"Obviously, after my 10,000m it is a little bit too soon to run the 5,000m," Bekele said in a release.

"I am back in Addis now and already did a good training session this morning.

"My injury is healed completely, but I was having small problems in the lead up to the championships and that caused a delay in my preparations.

"I was only able to do three track sessions before I started in Daegu and that is of course not enough.

"Maybe people wonder why I was in Daegu at the World Championships, but I felt it was important to represent my country.

"Besides that I have been out for a long time because of my injury and it was great to be in the athletes' village, to be among my athletics friends and to be in a full stadium again.

"This was the best motivation for me to go back now and start my preparation for London 2012.

"It was not nice to lose, since I have never lost a 10,000m in my career, but Sunday was my start in my preparation for London 2012."

Bekele is scheduled to race in the final Samsung Diamond League meeting of this year's series in Brussels on September 16.

Farah made his decision to run in the shorter distance, where his remaining rivals include former world champion Bernard Lagat of the United States, Ethiopia's 10,000m bronze medallist from Sunday, Imane Merga, and 2009 silver medallist Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea, after being given the all-clear by medical staff after he had suffered blisters at the end of the longer race.


Meanwhile Olga Kaniskina secured her third consecutive 20km race walk title - becoming the first woman in World Championship history to do so - and broke the curse of the cover page in so doing.

The Russian featured on the front page of the official programme today, a position that has been occupied in the last four days by Australian pole-vaulter Steve Hooker - who failed to qualify - Usain Bolt - disqualified - Dayron Robles - disqualified - and Yelena Isinbayeva - failed to earn a medal.

After finishing in 1 hour 29min 42sec in broiling conditions, it turned out she had been blissfully unaware of the circumstances.

"I didn't even realise that had been the case for the other athletes," said Kaniskina.

"I wasn't even aware that I was on the cover today.

"I'd like to thank everyone for not telling me about it before the race."

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