Dan Marino withdraws injury lawsuit against NFL

Dan Marino played for the Miami Dolphins for 17 seasons

Legendary American football quarterback Dan Marino is withdrawing from a concussion lawsuit against the National Football League (NFL).

The 52-year-old, who retired from the game in 1999, said he hadn't suffered any head injuries and he was only listed as a plaintiff by mistake.

Marino was the best-known of 15 former players who last week filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Philadelphia.

The league has denied allegations it misled players about concussion risks.

More than 4,500 former players had previously sued the league, reaching a $765m (£490m) settlement last August, but that was rejected by a federal judge in January.

The withdrawal of a Hall of Fame legend like Marino will be a blow to the latest lawsuit, which seeks damages for "negligence [and] intentional misconduct".

In a statement, Marino said: "Within the last year I authorised a claim to be filed on my behalf, just in case I needed future medical coverage to protect me and my family in the event I later suffered from the effects of head trauma.

"I did not realize I would be automatically listed as a plaintiff... I have made the decision it is not necessary for me to be part of any claims or this lawsuit, and therefore I am withdrawing as a plaintiff."

Marino was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2005

He is sympathetic to other players who are seeking relief for head injuries they may have suffered, Marino added.

Marino played 17 seasons for the Miami Dolphins, retiring to work as a sport broadcaster for CBS.

Helmet-to-helmet impacts are common in American football as strong, heavy and fast-moving players collide on the field of play.

Studies have linked repeated concussions with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a disease with symptoms including memory loss and mood swings.