Mo Farah has pulled out of Sunday’s London Marathon
(Picture: Getty Images)Mo Farah has pulled out of Sunday’s London Marathon because of a hip injury.
The Londoner, who had previously quit road racing for a return to the track before performing a U-turn, was set to run his first marathon since 2019.
But the four-time Olympic champion pulled out on Wednesday just four days before the event after failing to overcoming the hip issue.
He said: “I’ve been training really hard over the past few months and I’d got myself back into good shape and was feeling pretty optimistic about being able to put in a good performance at the London Marathon.
“However, over the past 10 days I’ve been failing pain and tightness in my right hip. I’ve had extensive physio and treatment and done everything I can to be on the start line but it hasn’t improved enough to compete on Sunday.
“It’s really disappointing to withdraw after a good last few months… because I love racing in front of my home crowd in London who always give all of us athletes such amazing support.”
Farah’s withdrawal is a big blow for race organisers, with the Londoner seen as the top draw in the absence of world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, who will be in attendance in London but not competing having broken his own world best last weekend in Berlin.
Following the news, London Marathon race director Hugh Brasher said: “We are so sorry to hear that Sir Mo is not fit to run on Sunday. We wish him a very speedy recovery and hope to see him running the 2023 London Marathon in April next year.”
