Farah under the spotlight

MO FARAH’S REPUTATION TAKES ANOTHER KNOCK AFTER FURTHER REVELATIONS IN THE TIMES AND ALSO ON THE BBC’S PANORAMA

IN RECENT years Mo Farah has been accompanied to his races by a representative from Freuds public relations agency.

The PR company has been paid to protect his reputation, but the runner might think about asking for a refund given the fact his name has continued to repeatedly take a hammering.

During recent days he has suffered two blows. Firstly, a big interview in The Times last Saturday with journalist and former middle-distance runner Matt Lawton revealed among other things that Farah has in fact known controversial coach Jama Aden for many years, something he has previously denied.

Then, on Monday night, a Panorama programme at prime time on the BBC looked at Farah and UK Athletics’ relationship with the now-banned coach Alberto Salazar and focused heavily on an injection of L-carnitine that he had before the London Marathon six years ago.

The programme claimed Farah told US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) officials during an interview that he did not have the injection but then, after seeing UKA head of endurance Barry Fudge, who had earlier been interviewed by USADA, Farah went back to see the officials to tell them he had, in fact, had the injection.

Emma Coburn, the 2017 world steeplechase champion, was among the many surprised onlookers as the Panorama programme aired and she took to social media to tweet: “Lies to investigators. Leaves the room, learns that the facts are out and they know he’s lying so he comes back with ‘it’s all coming back to me’ to try to save himself. Why anyone would choose to cheer for this person is beyond me.”

As the pressure piled on to Farah, there was also the revelation that Ed Warner, the former chairman of UKA, tried to persuade Farah to leave Salazar after the 2015 World Championships but Farah insisted on staying with the coach that had led him to world and Olympic titles.

The Times relevations