FARAH: I’LL NEVER FAIL DRUG TEST
Mo fumes after Anniversary victory
FOR a man so keen to talk of happiness and love, Mo Farah couldn’t quite hide his feelings of irritation and frustration after the Anniversary Games international meeting yesterday. This was meant to be the glorious homecoming and for most of his afternoon it was — given that he did what he does so well, which is to run fast and cross the line first.
Farah duly won the 3,000 metres in the stadium where he won his first two Olympic gold medals five summers ago. Just as then, he had the gift of a magnificent sprint finish.
But he continues to be followed by a cloud of suspicion because of his association with Alberto Salazar, his American coach who is under investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency. This has been brought to public attention in the past week because of the latest leak by Russian hackers. They had found documents that showed suspicions over Farah’s biological passport, although later documents in the leak showed the IAAF’s doubts had been allayed.
Why, Farah wanted to know y yesterday, y, must journalists make ‘ something of nothing’ when he has ‘never failed a drugs test’? It was all delivered with a smile, but the manner was prickly.
Asked about the leak, Farah said: ‘I love what I do, I do it with passion and love. I am sick of repeating myself and you guys just making something of nothing. As I said, I will never, ever fail a drugs test.
‘I know there are a lot of people who support me. It is just a small minority who think to become a success you must be doing something. I said I will never fail a drugs test. That is who I am. I believe in clean sports and I just have to enjoy what I do and keep smiling. And let you guys do what you do.’
Is it a distraction, with his final World Championships on the same London track less than a month away? ‘Not at all,’ he said. ‘What I do day in and day out, there is no secret to it. My life is not as easy as people think, it is about grafting. I wish you guys would understand it a bit more and write down the facts.’
Judging from Farah’s 7min 35.15sec, more than two seconds outside his 7:32.62 national record in this non- championship distance, his legs, at least, are in good order.
For Laura Muir there was a personal best in the mile, but the Scot missed her goal of breaking Zola Budd’s 32-yearold British record of 4:17.57.
At halfway halfway, paced by 800m runner Jenny Meadows, Muir was close to world record pace, but she slowed in the later stages and was passed by Kenya’s Hellen Obiri down the home straight.
Muir finished second in 4:18.03 — a second lifetime best in a week following her 800m in Lausanne on Thursday — as she returns to racing following a stress fracture.
‘I’m disappointed not to get the record but I’m still really happy with that time, it’s still a PB for me,’ said Muir. ‘I was tired in the last 100 metres but considering I was putting two races together in the last four days, I’m very happy.’
Meanwhile, Zharnel Hughes missed his chance to make certain of selection for the British team at 200m at the World Championships with an underwhelming 20.33sec run.
Given Adam Gemili, his rival for the spot, was missing through injury, Hughes could have effectively secured a pick with a good performance. But finishing fifth here might leave room for doubt with the selectors, who hold their final meeting on July 24.
CJ Ujah equalled his best time of the season in the 100m, winning in 10.02sec from James Dasaolu’s 10.06, his fastest in three years. Tom Bosworth set a world record of 5:31.08 in the Mile race walk, taking six seconds off the existing mark.