4-time Iditarod champ Lance Mackey out of 2017 race

Organizers of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race say four-time champion and cancer survivor Lance Mackey has dropped out of next year's nearly 1,600-kilometre race because of health reasons.

A raceofficial says Mackeyis hoping his withdrawal from nextyear's race will give him a chance to take better care of his healthso he can be ready to compete again in 2018.

Race marshal Mark Nordman says Mackey has continued to strugglewith hand circulation problems that were partly blamed for himscratching from this year's race across Alaska.

Mackey could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Mackey was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2001 and underwent extensive surgery as well as radiation treatment and the loss of his salivary glands.

After returning to the sport he went on to become the only musher ever to win both the Iditarod and the 1,600-kilometre Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in the same year. It's a feat he has accomplished twice.