LONDON - World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe's hopes of making the London Olympic race next Sunday are "not looking good", she said on Sunday while hitting out at a newspaper report that she had already been ruled out.

The Briton, who has never won an Olympic medal and has been dogged by bad luck at previous Games, is suffering with a foot injury.

"Hurt by dailymail & whoever thinks know my situation, before even do final test run. Not looking good but my heartbreaking news to break!" she tweeted.

The 38-year-old was forced to drop out of the 2004 Athens marathon through illness and injury. She finished 23rd in Beijing four years ago after her preparations were also hampered by injury.

British team chef de mission Andy Hunt said on Sunday she was still on the team and they hoped she would be fit, but there were options to replace her should she have to pull out.

"In Paula's case, there is a potential replacement athlete," he told a news conference. - Reuters