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| Toronto Mayor Rob Ford withdraws from race with tumour | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has withdrawn from October's mayoral election after being diagnosed with an abdominal tumour. | |
| The mayor, 45, had defied calls to step down after admitting last year he had smoked crack cocaine while in office. | The mayor, 45, had defied calls to step down after admitting last year he had smoked crack cocaine while in office. |
| He was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after suffering months of abdominal pain. | He was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after suffering months of abdominal pain. |
| His brother and political confidant Toronto Councillor Doug Ford has replaced him on the ballot. | |
| Drunken stupor | Drunken stupor |
| Amid the flurry of activity at Toronto's city hall on Friday, Mr Ford issued a statement from his hospital bed saying it had been an "honour" to serve as mayor. | |
| "People know me as a guy who faces things head on and never gives up," Mr Ford said. | |
| "Now I could be facing a battle of my lifetime, and I want the people of Toronto to know that I intend to face this challenge head on, and win." | |
| Rob Ford's withdrawal came after a tumultuous four years in office that saw him accused of public drunkenness, misuse of official resources and drug use. | Rob Ford's withdrawal came after a tumultuous four years in office that saw him accused of public drunkenness, misuse of official resources and drug use. |
| Then last year, the Toronto Star and US news and gossip website Gawker reported they had watched videos of him appearing to smoke crack cocaine. | Then last year, the Toronto Star and US news and gossip website Gawker reported they had watched videos of him appearing to smoke crack cocaine. |
| In November, Mr Ford admitted he had purchased and used the drug while in what he described as a drunken stupor. | In November, Mr Ford admitted he had purchased and used the drug while in what he described as a drunken stupor. |
| Though eventually stripped of most of his mayoral powers by the Toronto city council, Mr Ford defied calls to step down and announced he was running for re-election. | Though eventually stripped of most of his mayoral powers by the Toronto city council, Mr Ford defied calls to step down and announced he was running for re-election. |
| Mr Ford did a month-long stint in rehab, then returned to city hall in June. | Mr Ford did a month-long stint in rehab, then returned to city hall in June. |
| Recent polls have shown him in contention, buoyed by support from the "Ford Nation" in the city's inner suburbs and among younger, less educated and poorer voters in Canada's largest city. | Recent polls have shown him in contention, buoyed by support from the "Ford Nation" in the city's inner suburbs and among younger, less educated and poorer voters in Canada's largest city. |
| Rob Ford's withdrawal leaves Olivia Chow, a former NDP member of parliament, and John Tory, a businessman and former Conservative member of the Ontario parliament, as the frontrunners in the 27 October election. | Rob Ford's withdrawal leaves Olivia Chow, a former NDP member of parliament, and John Tory, a businessman and former Conservative member of the Ontario parliament, as the frontrunners in the 27 October election. |
| Rob Ford's staff removed his name from the non-partisan ballot just ahead of a deadline for ballot changes, city officials said. | Rob Ford's staff removed his name from the non-partisan ballot just ahead of a deadline for ballot changes, city officials said. |
| An online listing of mayoral candidates carries the name of Doug Ford, with a nomination date of 12 September 2014. | An online listing of mayoral candidates carries the name of Doug Ford, with a nomination date of 12 September 2014. |