Osaka 2007 - Ethiopian athletics legend Kenenisa Bekele will not attempt to win the 5,000 metres and 10,000m at this year's world championships he has confirmed.

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• Ethopia concerned for Bekele form

The 24-year-old Olympic and two-time world champion at 10,000m told the IAAF website that he believed it would be too much of a task especially as it promises to be hot and humid in Osaka, Japan, and he has already tried and failed on two previous occasions to do the double.

"I don't think I will double up in Osaka as it will be too much," admitted Bekele, who took silver in the Athens Olympics in the 5000m and bronze at the 2003 world championships in Paris on the two previous occasions he has attempted the double.

Bekele, whose form has dimmed in the past year and saw him fail to finish the world cross country championship race earlier this season, said he would take on a lot lighter race load this campaign.

"I will maybe race three or four times before Osaka. I will also try and break my 5000m world record (12min 37.35sec in 2004 in Hengelo, The Netherlands)."

The world championships run from August 25 to September 2.

AFP