Concerns for tired marathon champion Noguchi

Women's Olympic marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi of Japan is undergoing tests after suffering from fatigue just over a week before defending her title. Japan's Kyodo news agency reported yesterday that the 30-year-old had undergone a second MRI scan...

Women's Olympic marathon champion Mizuki Noguchi of Japan is undergoing tests after suffering from fatigue just over a week before defending her title.

Japan's Kyodo news agency reported yesterday that the 30-year-old had undergone a second MRI scan after cutting short her altitude training in Switzerland, citing muscle soreness.

If Noguchi is forced to withdraw it would be a huge blow for Japan, where marathon running is hugely popular and draws enormous crowds. The country has won the last two women's Olympic marathons.

This year's race on August 17 is looking wide open after world record holder Paula Radcliffe had her preparations badly set back by a stress fracture in her leg.

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