Kenya's veteran and multiple London Marathon champion Martin Lel will not be lining up in Sunday's Hamburg marathon after pulling out with muscle strain.

Lel, who won the London Marathon three times and finished second also three times, has a personal best time of 2:05:15 back in 2008.

The 35-year-old was keen to add another medal to his illustrious collection, which includes gold from New York and bronze from Boston, but will have to unwind as he waits for his injury to heal.

"It's true I will not be running in Hamburg. I had trained well for the race, but unfortunately, injuries cropped up and I have to suspend my assault. I will be back soon and we will see what will be up for grabs in the fall marathon season before I commit myself," he said in Eldoret on Saturday.

He ran his first marathon in 2002 at Prague, but after going through the halfway point in 1:04:51 he did not finish. Five months later he placed second at Venice in 2:10:02.

Lel gave early notice of a breakthrough in 2003 when he won the Lisbon Half Marathon in 1:00:10 and had two additional wins at the distance at Virginia Beach and in a sprint finish at the World Championships.

A month later he won the ING New York City Marathon. There was no stopping Lel anymore as he has won over ten big city marathons.

It was not only Lel who will be missing out in Hamburg. Organizers also confirmed that legend Haile Gebrselassie has withdrawn from the race.

Eliud Kipchoge claimed the Hamburg marathon crown last year in a course record of 2:05:30 in his debut. However, he too will not be seeking to defend it having run two weeks ago in Rotterdam Marathon in 2:05:00.