(Reuters) -World record holder Ruth Chepngetich and reigning champion Peres Jepchirchir have withdrawn from the London Marathon, organisers said on Friday, less than two weeks before the race.

Kenyan Chepngetich smashed the women's record in Chicago last year, running 2:09:56 to become the first woman to break 2:10, and had hoped to improve on that time in London on April 27.