Olympic marathon champion Stefano Baldini has a stress fracture of his left leg and will be out of action for around a month, the Italian Athletics Federation (FIDAL) said yesterday.

The 36-year-old felt the injury when he finished 12th at this month's London Marathon and a scan has shown the full extent of the problem.

Baldini, who should be back in good time to compete at the Beijing Games in August, was downbeat.

"I don't want to make a drama but at this point it has complicated things.

"We are close to the Olympics and I think to get injured is not the best way to approach the Games," he said in a FIDAL statement.

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