ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AFP) — Ethiopian track star Haile Gebrselassie admitted yesterday that a knee injury and the failure to finish this month’s New York marathon were the reasons for his unexpected retirement from athletics.

The double Olympic gold medallist and world record holder shocked the world by announcing he was quitting after dropping out of the race on November 7, only to revoke his decision at the start of the week.

Speaking at a press conference here the 37-year-old said his reaction after New York had been purely emotional and denied speculation that it was down to political pressure from people who were allegedly pushing him to take them on board as partners in his multi-million dollar business ventures in Ethiopia.

“It really makes me very angry because they (the media) should ask me. I am (the one) doing sports,” he said.

Gebrselassie said the knee injury worsened on the eve of the race but, as the pre-race favourite at his first New York marathon attempt, he did not believe it was right to complain about the pain.

“Imagine just complaining after promising to win the race,” he remarked.

Gebrselassie, who has termed running as his top priority to any other business, has targeted the Tokyo marathon as his comeback race.

He said he would not give himself a deadline on when to retire, but he is also eyeing the 2012 London Olympics.

Gebrselassie confirmed on Monday via his Twitter page he will race in Tokyo on February 27.

“Did a 90 minutes run this morning, it was great,” he wrote.

“No pain in my knee and relieved to know that I can continue what I love doing.

“My next race will be Tokyo marathon in February.”

Gebrselassie set the current world record for the marathon in 2008 when he ran 2 hours 03:59 minutes in Berlin, breaking his own record.