Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming London Marathon due to a hip injury.
The 39-year-old had won the Big Half last month - only his second competition of the calendar year - as his preparations for the 2022 London Marathon kicked into gear.
Farah also finished second at the London 10k back in May after recovering from a foot fracture and was expected to compete for just his second London Marathon medal on October 2.
However, the 2018 bronze medallist will no longer be competing due to a right hip problem which has been bedevilling him for the past week and a half.
"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."
Farah has pulled out of the men's race only two days after Brigid Kosgei - champion in 2019 and 2020 - was forced to withdraw from the women's event due to a right hamstring injury.
Ben Knapton
