FARAH WANTS 2020 MARATHON GOLD

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI in Chicago

MO FARAH has revealed he will chase a fifth Olympic medal in the marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The four-time gold medallist has spent the past year deliberating over a U-turn on his international retirement and confirmed for the first time yesterday that he will be in Japan. The 35-year-old, who contests only the third marathon of his career in Chicago tomorrow, said: ‘I know from my training that I am capable of getting another (Olympic) medal. I don’t know what colour it’s going to be, but I want to continue through 2020. ‘As long as my body can hold up, I am definitely going to Tokyo. Getting a medal would be up there with what I did on the track. It’s something I’ve always thought I could do.’ Farah broke the 33-year-old British record in finishing third at the London Marathon in April, clocking 2hr 6min 21sec. Conditions in Chicago are expected to be trickier, with rain and wind forecast, but Farah (below) has set himself a target of breaking Sondre Nordstad Moen’s European mark of 2:05:48. Farah, who will be up against Olympic bronze medallist and former training partner Galen Rupp, said: ‘I believe that with the right race I am in with a shout of the European record. Even if it is raining, it is still on. If we haven’t got the wind against us most of the way, it is possible. A personal best and a win here would be great. I want to mix it with the guys.’ Meanwhile, the power struggle at British Athletics showed no signs of abating yesterday as senior figures refused to end calls for the removal of chairman Richard Bowker. Bowker has spent the last week trying to garner support after the UK Athletics board received a written request from the members’ council to end his tenure because of his attempts to make the home nations subservient to the governing body. But after discussions yesterday, the members’ council are now expected to invoke their powers and serve 28 days’ notice to have Bowker driven out.