The 1996 Chicago marathon winner Paul Evans yesterday warned that young athletes competing in September's Commonwealth Games could have their long term health endangered by the pollution in host city Kuala Lumpur.

Evans, one of Britain's top distance runners, claimed pollution levels in Kuala Lumpur could be dangerous to young competitors who will feel nonetheless they cannot give up the chance to take part.

The 37-year-old, who finished runner-up in the 1995 New York marathon and third in the 1996 London renewal, said British athletics officials could be doing more to find out whether it is safe for people to take part in the Games.

Evans, who was a footballer until he took up athletics full-time in 1986, said he would not hesitate to pull out of taking part if he felt the levels of toxins in the air would harm him.

"The buck is being passed on to the athlete to make up their mind whether or not they want to take part," he said. "We are being supplied with figures, but they don't mean too much to anyone.

"I'm in a position where I don't have to go if I feel my health would be at risk, but for athletes who are about 18-years-old it would be very hard to drop out.