GLASGOW (AFP) - England's double Olympic champion Mo Farah has withdrawn from the Commonwealth Games owing to fitness concerns, his team announced on Thursday.

The 5,000 and 10,000 metres Olympic champion was recently laid low by illness and has decided to pull out of the Glasgow event in order to work on his fitness ahead of next month's European Championships in Zurich.

"I have taken the tough decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games," the 31-year-old Somali-born runner said in a statement released by Team England.

"I really wanted to add the Commonwealth titles to my Olympic and World Championships, but the event is coming a few weeks too soon for me as my body is telling me it's not ready to race yet. Best wishes to my fellow athletes in Glasgow."