Mo Farah does a track retirement U-Turn and will defend Olympic 10,000m title

MO Farah is making a surprise return to the track and will defend his Olympic 10,000m title in Tokyo.

Two years ago, the 36-year-old ended his decorated track career to concentrate full-time on the marathon.

The Londoner had stayed true to his word and spent all his training focusing on 26.2 miles, winning the Chicago Marathon in 2018.

However, in a social media post today, he has announced he will represent Team GB on the track once again. SunSport understands he will not take on the Olympic marathon course, an acknowledgement that he will struggle the close the gap on world record holder Eliud Kipchoge over the next eight months.

Farah, a four-time Olympic champion, said: “After the Chicago marathon, I decided to take a nice break with my family. I really enjoyed it.

“It’s really exciting to compete at the marathon for the last couple of years and to win Chicago, a major marathon. To finish third in the London marathon was okay.

“It’s been a great learning code for me, to do the marathon, to run 2:05, a British and European record.

“It was very exciting. The training was different to the track.

“Next year I have decided Tokyo 2020, I will be back on the track. I’m really excited to be competing in the 10,000m and to give it a go.

“Hopefully I haven’t lost my speed. I will train hard for it, and see what I can do. It’s exciting.”

Farah has come under-fire for his relationship with ex-coach Alberto Salazar, who has been banned from athletics for four years for anti-doping violations.

Farah worked with the disgraced Salazar between 2011 and 2017.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on Farah’s part.

Speaking before the Chicago Marathon, Farah said he had “not done anything wrong” and he felt there was an “agenda” against him.

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