London waits on Gebrselassie

Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie has received his invitation to take part in the 25th anniversary running of the London Marathon on April 17 but is waiting a few days before he posts it back.

The greatest distance runner in history has told organisers that a fitness test during a half-marathon at the end of this month will determine whether he takes his place among the best field ever assembled for a 26.2-mile race. It includes the Olympic gold and silver medallists Stefano Baldini, of Italy, and Meb Keflezighi, of the United States, Morocco's world champion Jaouad Gharib and the 2004 London winner Evans Rutto.

An appearance in London would give the 33-year-old Gebrselassie the opportunity to renew his rivalry with Paul Tergat, Kenya's world marathon record holder.

"This would be a massive bonus for London," said David Bedford, the race director. "Haile never gives less than 100% and we hope he comes through the half-marathon test with flying colours."

Gebrselassie had an operation on his left achilles tendon in Finland on September 9 and was back in light training after three weeks. But he has not raced since last summer's Athens Olympics. The injury hampered his attempt there to win a record third consecutive 10,000 metres gold medal. He finished in fifth more than five seconds adrift of third place.

He had always planned to move to the marathon after that race and the emergence of his training partner Kenenisa Bekele as his successor to the Olympic title showed he made the right decision. "The young men are so forceful and we have no choice but to pave way for them on track," he said.

Gebrselassie was not expected to run a marathon until autumn but his rehabilitation has been swifter than anticipated and he is confident of being on the start line in London. "My doctor is amazed by the progress. He thought the earliest I could consider running would be January but I am already back in full training."

It would be the second time Gebrselassie, who has set 18 world records, has competed in London. In 2002 he led for 25 miles but finished third in 2 hours 6min 35sec behind Tergat and the Moroccan-born American Khalid Khannouchi, who won in a world record 2 hours 5min 38sec.