Steinle was the fastest Briton in the 2002 London Marathon

Steinle has been forced to scrap his plans to compete after being laid low by an iron deficiency.

The 28-year-old has been Britain's top finisher in London for the past three years, setting a personal best of 2:09.17 last year when he claimed eighth place.

Steinle's withdrawal comes after the British men's team put in a dismal showing at the World Cross Country Championships.

Only Matthew Smith managed to finish in the top 50 of the long race, grabbing 49th spot in 39:22mins - nearly three-and-a-half minutes behind the winner.

Britain's Paula Radcliffe is the favourite to take the women's race on 13 April - and with the additional withdrawal of Matt O'Dowd, she is now the fastest Briton in the race, male or female.