Thursday, August 10 2006 15:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gothenburg (Sweden): The French athletics federation on Monday suspended 1500m runner Latifa Essarokh after receiving medical notification that she was not fit to run in the European championships.

The decision comes just two weeks after the 32-year-old set a new French record for the 1500m at the Stockholm Grand Prix. "The doctor in charge of the medical well-being of high-level athletes has just delivered a medical certificate indicating she is not fit for competition," the federation said.

Essarokh is now suspended from all competition until the lifting of the medical ruling, the federation added.

She did not take the plane with the rest of the French team to Gothenburg on Sunday, the federation putting her absence down to 'family reasons'.

Essarokh, contacted by telephone, said she had an ankle problem that the team doctor deemed needed up to two weeks out of competition. "I injured myself on a training run on Friday," she told sources.

"I put my foot in a hole I didn't see," she said.