Tergat's decision comes amid speculation that the reigning New York Marathon title holder is nearing retirement.

BBC: SPORT | Athletics | Berhanu to replace absent Tergat

Brazil's Marilson Gomes dos Santos won the men's race in 2:09.58 from Kenya's Stephen Kiogora and Paul Tergat.

BBC: Lance Armstrong during the New York Marathon

Tergat has also set several world records on the track and the roads.

BBC: Tergat in Great Ireland Run field

The Athens marathon will be Tergat's last for his country, but he will continue to race on as an individual.

BBC: Tergat confirms London bid

Tergat was scheduled to face the reigning Olympic and world marathon champions Stefano Baldini of Italy and Jaouad Gharib from Morocco.

BBC: SPORT | Athletics | Berhanu to replace absent Tergat

Kenya's Martin Lel won the men's race in an upset for favourites Haile Gebrselassie and reigning world marathon record holder Paul Tergat.

BBC: Runners brave marathon heatwave

Tergat's world record time knocked 43 seconds off the previous best and was the biggest improvement in the world record in five years.

BBC: Tergat confirms London bid

"I will run as long as I am still able to concentrate and to focus, " said Tergat, who has won two Olympic silver medals in the 10, 000m.

BBC: Tergat confirms London bid

Sammy Korir, who finished one second behind Tergat in Berlin to become the second fastest of all time, Chicago Marathon runner-up Daniel Njenga and fellow Kenyan Evans Rutto will also be in action.

BBC: Tergat confirms London bid