BBC blackout for Radcliffe's world half marathon title bid

From Steven Downes, in Berlin

PAULA Radcliffe's bid win to World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham later this year could be subject to a television blackout.

NO COVERAGE: BBC officials confirm they will not broadcast October's World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham (Getty Images)

Radcliffe, who withdrew from today's World Championship marathon in Berlin, which was won by China's Xue Bai, said this week she would use the event in October as preparation for the New York Marathon later this year.

However, officials from the International Association of Athletics Federation have expressed surprise that the BBC, their long-time broadcast partners, will not be televising her medal bid.

It is the first time in 40 years that the BBC has not covered an international athletics championship when staged in the UK.

However, they insist resources were stretched, with the Great North Run scheduled to take place a few weeks later.

A BBC spokesperson said that the decision was "due to a busy and competing sport schedule on the weekend of the race and its proximity on our schedules to another half-marathon, the Great North Run, which was already under contract."