Zac Purchase was first hit by the virus in March

Olympic gold medallist Zac Purchase will not compete at all this year in a bid to recover fully from a virus.

Purchase, from Tewkesbury who won Great Britain's first lightweight Olympic rowing medal in the double scull, was hit by the illness in March.

"The virus left me feeling a little low and I haven't been able to train fully since," said the 23-year-old.

"I'm totally fixed on delivering in 2012 and, for me, it makes sense to stand aside for a little while."

GB performance director David Tanner said: "We all agree that the priority for Zac is London 2012.

"With that longer-term goal in mind, it makes complete sense for us to look to the 2010 season and there is no pressure to come back quickly."

Great Britain had already made plans for this season, with Purchase having missed selection trials in April.

A new-look lightweight double of Rob Williams and Paul Mattick finished fourth in the first World Cup regatta in Spain two weekends ago.

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And Adam Freeman-Pask took bronze in the lightweight men's single scull, after joining the squad as a late substitute for Purchase.

Mark Hunter, Purchase's partner in the double in Beijing, has taken a year off to coach in California but expects to be back in training next season.

The second of three World Cup events this year starts in Munich on 19 June, with the World Championships in Poznan, Poland in August.

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