Pavey finished 12th in the 10,000m final at the Beijing Olympics

Jo Pavey has pulled out of Sunday's Great South Run in Portsmouth after picking up a groin injury.

The 35-year-old's withdrawal puts an end to the eagerly anticipated 10-mile race with Paula Radcliffe.

Pavey's husband and coach, Gavin, said: "We did a session last Friday and Jo had to pull up. The groin was sore and she could not extend her leg."

Kenya's Martha Komu, who finished fifth in the Olympic marathon in Beijing, has been drafted in as a replacement.

It will be Radcliffe's first race since she finished 23rd in the Olympic marathon on 17 August.

Pavey, who won the Great South Run in 2006, missed last year's race also through injury and after a third-place finish in the recent Great North Run is frustrated at missing out again.

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"She has had various problems since last year with her groin but has managed to run through it since April - with a lot of good physio assistance," said Gavin.

"After the Great North Run, Jo was unable to warm down but we were not over concerned as we thought it would settle.

"She had an MRI scan the day after the GNR and this showed no major problems - no stress fracture just soft tissue - only some minor bone irritation.

"That was a green light to continue running but she was advised to have few days' rest first.

"We would do that anyway after a half marathon and when she started to run again it was okay at first - just bit sore.

"Then last Friday Jo had to stop. She can run slowly on it but cannot stride."

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