The world record holding top marathon runner, Haile Gebrselassie, has bowed out of the Beijing Olympic marathon event citing concerns for his health. Gebrselassie is a famed Ethiopian runner who suffers from exercise-induced asthma. He is scheduled to run in the 10,000-meter event, but Beijing's infamous industrial air pollution raised serious health concerns and eventually led him to withdraw from the marathon.

The pollution in Beijing has been a concern for athletes and coaches since the Beijing was awarded the games, but Chinese officials have promised that conditions will be acceptable for the Games.