Mo Farah has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games.

Team England announced the 31-year-old double Olympic and world champion, who was due to go for gold over 5,000 and 10,000 metres in Glasgow, had made good progress on his recovery from a recent illness, but had withdrawn to focus on getting back to full fitness in time for next month’s European Championships in Zurich.

The news is a major blow to the Games, coming the morning after they launched with a spectacular opening ceremony at Celtic Park.

Farah said: “I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games. The sickness I had two weeks ago was a big setback for me.”

The Londoner, who was set to be one of the biggest stars in Glasgow, pulled out of his last two races – the Glasgow Grand Prix at Hampden Park and last Sunday’s Anniversary Games – after being admitted to hospital in the United States with abdominal pains.

He has been training hard at his altitude base in Font Romeu in a bid to be fit for the Games, but they have come too soon. The 5,000m final takes place on the first evening of the athletics programme on Sunday.

Team England chef de mission Jan Paterson said: “It is a real blow for any athlete to miss out on a major championships through injury, but to have fought so hard to regain full fitness and to have to take such a difficult decision at this stage is particularly hard.

“We wish Mo all the very best and hope to see him back to his peak very soon.”

Silver for Wiggins

Bradley Wiggins had to settle for the silver medal on his return to track cycling as England were beaten by Australia in the Commonwealth Games 4,000 metres team pursuit yesterday evening.

Wiggins, the 2012 Tour de France winner who was left out of this year’s edition by Team Sky, had pinned all his hopes on the track event after opting out of the road race and the time trail.

But he, Ed Clancy, Andy Tennant and Steven Burke were well beaten at the Chris Hoy Velodrome by Jack Bobridge, Luke Davison, Alex Edmondson and Glenn O’Shea who won in a time of three minutes 55 seconds.

Elsewhere, Anna Meares claimed her fifth Commonwealths gold as she won the 500 metres time trial to move level with fellow Australian Bradley McGee as the most successful track cyclist in the Games.

The 30-year-old Meares, Australia’s flag bearer at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, clocked a Games record 33.43 seconds.