Mo Farah pulls out of Sunday's London Marathon due to hip injury

Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah has pulled out of the London Marathon due to a hip injury.

The 39 year-old returned to the track in 2020 after three years of focusing on the marathon but failed to qualify for last year's delayed Tokyo Olympics.

Mo had been training well and won The Big Half in London earlier this month,

"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 TCS London Marathon," Farah said in a statement released on tcslondonmarathon.com.

"However, over the past 10 days I've been feeling 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 have to withdraw after a good last few months and after my win at The Big Half but also because I love racing in front of my home crowd in London who always give all of us athletes such amazing support.

"I wish everyone taking part on Sunday a good run and I hope to be back out there with you in April 2023."

Those who have pulled out also include the women's world record holder Brigid Kosgei, who has suffered a hamstring injury, as well as Commonwealth champion Eilish McColgan, whose training was affected by unexpected issues with her blood sugar levels.

Kosgei said: "I have been struggling over the past month with an issue in the hamstring of my right leg. My training has been up and down and not the way I would like to prepare to be in top condition for the 2022 TCS London Marathon.

"We've decided it's best I withdraw from this year's race and get further treatment on my injuries in order to enter 2023 stronger than ever."