Bjørnar Andersen has scratched at Takotna

Considered by many to be one of the favorites in the 2009 Iditarod, Bjørnar Andersen from Team Norway has scratched from the Iditarod race. The musher who calls Elverum Norway home had a mishap after the Rohn checkpoint where the sled tipped on it's side and dragged him over an icy surface for a considerable distance. After righting the sled he toughed it out for another 70 miles to the Takotna checkpoint, where he hoped some rest might help him out. His condition did not improve over the 24 hours in Takotna and the medical personnel there became concerned given he had been vomiting and had blood in his urine. The decision was made to withdraw and he was flown to Anchorage for further treatment.