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London has been forced to abandon its bid to host the 2015 World Athletics Championships because of uncertainty over the future of the Olympic Stadium.

The withdrawal leaves Beijing as the only bidding city with London set to focus on the 2017 event.

A decision on what happens to the Olympic Stadium after London 2012 will not be taken until March next year and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is to decide on the 2015 hosts on November 20.

Some proposals for the stadium, including one by Tottenham Hotspur, include the removal of the athletics track after 2012.

UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said: "Obviously we are disappointed not to be pursuing our 2015 bid, especially after securing the support of the Government and the Mayor of London.

"However, we need to present the IAAF with a bid that is free of any uncertainties.

"That is not something we can commit to until the process regarding the future of the stadium is concluded.

"Our bid is, in my opinion, an excellent one and one that can deliver an outstanding championships for the IAAF."

Sports minister Hugh Robertson revealed he was now very hopeful the Government would underwrite the 2017 bid.

Robertson added: "That is still to be completely confirmed but I would be very disappointed if that were not the case."

The minister said the biggest danger would have been to make a bid and then have to pull out at a later date – as happened in 2001 when the then Government pulled out of London's Picketts Lock hosting the 2005 championships.

Robertson continued: "The crucial thing was to avoid the collateral damage we suffered with Picketts Lock.

"If we had pre-judged the outcome of the tendering process for the Olympic Stadium we would open ourselves up to legal challenge."

The decision to bid instead for 2017 has been made with the blessing of the IAAF.

The organisation's president Lamine Diack said: "We fully understand the reasons for UKA moving their bid from 2015 to 2017. We are delighted that London are still in the race."

The contest for 2017 may be more competitive, however, with Rome, Istanbul and Doha all possible bidders.

Beijing should be confirmed as the 2015 hosts later this month.