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      ‘He’s a legend’ – Olympic long-distance king Mo Farah would be welcomed back on the British Athletics team, says chief

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      MO FARAH would be welcomed back on the British Athletics team for last one hurrah.Britain’s Olympic long-distance king is nearing the end of his career, having failed to qualify for the Tokyo Games this summer and suffered a foot stress fracture.
      Mo Farah would be welcome back on the British Athletics teamCredit: PA
      The Olympic legend has yet to confirm his plans for the 2022 seasonCredit: Reuters
      The 38-year-old has yet to confirm his plans for the 2022 season, which could see him race at the Great North Run or London Marathon in the autumn.
      Before that there are three major events on the track – the worlds, Birmingham Commonwealths and Europeans – where he could run for the last time in GB colours.
      British Athletics head coach Christian Malcolm said: “I’d welcome any athlete who is out there performing well.
      “Because people have been moved off the world class performance plan doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want them to be part of the team.
      “You want that competition, appetite to be back in the team and performing for their country.
      “We spoke on WhatsApp a couple of months ago. 

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      “I’m giving him a bit of space and time.
      “But I will be in contact with him just to find out what he wants to do.
      “Farah is a legend of our sport and deserves to make his decision in his own time.”
      Olympic hero Mo Farah helps fitness star Joe Wicks achieve speedy 5k run time More

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      Team GB star CJ Ujah stripped of National Lottery funding over Tokyo silver medallist’s failed drug test

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      CJ UJAH has been stripped of domestic athletics funding following his Olympics drugs violation.The sprinter is suspended from the sport after testing positive for banned substances at the Tokyo Games in August.
      Ujah has taken his case to the Court of Arbitration for SportCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Ujah with his relay pals Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake in TokyoCredit: Getty
      The case has gone to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the GB team that won 4x100m relay silver behind Italy could be stripped of their medals.
      That would mean heartache for Ujah’s Tokyo team-mates Zharnel Hughes, Richard Kilty and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.
      Londoner Ujah, 27, was on Olympic Relays funding – between £21,000 and £28,000 – over the past 12 months.
      He insists he is not a cheat and denies any wrongdoing.
      And if he can prove his innocence in the CAS court then he could possibly request funds – which are provided through the National Lottery – for the 2022 season.
      Olympic head coach Christian Malcolm said: “It was a bit of shock when we found out about the test.

      “It’s very unfortunate, especially the hard work that the whole team had put into it. We’e still waiting to find out what the outcome of that will be.”
      British Athletics Performance Director Sara Symington added: “CJ is currently suspended from the sport so we were unable to consider him in this selection process. That was the rationale.”
      A group of 67 athletes have been offered membership to join the Olympic World Class Programme pool of cash.
      This includes Keely Hodgkinson, 19, who came from nowhere to win an Olympic 800m silver medal and the European indoors title.
      Scottish runner Andrew Butchart has been removed from Olympic Podium Potential funding of £10,000 to £16,000 despite finishing 11th in the 5,000m Olympic final.
      Athletics bosses say this was for ‘performance’ reasons not due to his embarrassing comments about allegedly faking Covid travel tests on a podcast. More

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      Agnes Jebet Tirop dead at 25: Tokyo Olympic star and World medallist found stabbed to death at home in Kenya

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      KENYA’S Tokyo Olympic star Agnes Tirop has been found dead with a stab wound in her abdomen.The 5,000m star, 25, was discovered at her house in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County earlier.
      Kenyan Olympic medallist Agnes Tirop has been found dead with stab wounds in her stomach
      The 25-year-old was discovered at her homeCredit: Getty
      Her passing comes just two months after she finished fourth at the Games.
      Her death has been confirmed by Barnaba Korir, the chairperson of Athletics Kenya in Nairobi Region.
      Tirop made history in the adizero Road To Records event in Germany in September.
      She slashed 28 seconds from the 19-year-old women’s record for 10km after clocking a staggering 30:01.
      Tirop sped away from compatriot Sheila Chepkirui to break the mark of 30:29 which had been set by Moroccan Asmae Leghzaoui in 2002.
      Afterwards she said: “I’m so happy to have broken the world record. I felt the pace was good. The course was very good, too.”

      Tirop became the second-youngest medallist at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in the women’s race.
      She was a medallist at junior level at the World Cross Country and World Junior Championships and she was the junior champion at the African Cross Country Championships in 2014. 
      The long-distance star then won a bronze medal in the 10,000 metres event at the 2017 World Championships.
      Tirop represented her country at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo and was one of the medal favourites.
      She eventually finished fourth in the 5,000m women’s finals after clocking 14:39.62.
      Dutch star Sifan Hassan won gold, with Kenya’s Hellen Obiri settling for silver and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay pipping Tirop to bronze by less than a second.
      Award-Winning Sports Journalist Usher Komugisha, voted in Top 100 Most Influential Young Africans, tweeted: “HEARTBREAKING! Kenyan athlete Agnes Jebet “Tirop, who represented Kenya at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the 5000m, has been found dead in her house with stab wounds to her abdomen. 
      “She was just 10 days away from her 26th birthday. Rest in peace Queen!”
      Another devastated fan wrote: “Heartbreaking to lose such an amazing talent in Athletics under weird circumstances. Kenya has lost big! Rest well 2015 World Cross Country Champion Agnes Tirop.”
      Tirop (right) won a bronze in the 10,000 metres event at the 2017 World ChampionshipsCredit: Getty
      The star narrowly missed out on a bronze for Kenya at the Tokyo GamesCredit: Getty
      Team GB set to be stripped of Tokyo 2020 4x100m medal after CJ Ujah’s positive B sample drug test is confirmed More

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      London Marathon live tracker app 2021: Follow your friends and family as they run in capital TODAY

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      THE London Marathon is back as thousands prepare to take to the streets on Sunday.And now, thanks to an app developed by organisers Virgin, you can track the progress of loved ones throughout the 26.2 mile race.
      It’s a chaotic scene around London when the Marathon starts – but you can keep up with how your loved ones are doing with the special appCredit: Rex Features
      How can I track runners at the 2021 London Marathon?
      The Virgin Money London Marathon app allows users to track specific runners and see the leaderboard for the whole race.
      It boasts a variety of exciting features and lets you find and track participants along the race route, helping you to keep up with split times, finishing positions and results throughout the day.
      You can see their progress at every 5k split and track their pace. The app will also predict what time your runner will reach the next 5k checkpoint based on their current pace.
      The app is available on iOS and Android.
      The London Marathon app can tell participants’ split times and also their positionCredit: Rex Features
      What TV channel is the London Marathon on?
      The BBC will be showing coverage of the London Marathon throughout the day.
      It will be on BBC1, BBC Sport Online and red button with different cameras available.
      The red button will give commentary on the elite races and then will offer finish line coverage.
      What time does the race start?
      The 2021 London Marathon will take place TODAY, October 3.
      The races take place at:

      9.05am – Elite Wheelchair Races
      9.10am – World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup ambulant races
      9.25am – The Elite Women’s Race
      10.10am – The Elite Men’s Race, British Athletics and England Athletics Marathon Championships and Mass Race

      Who are the favourites?
      Eliud Kipchoge will not be at the race this year after focusing all his attention on winning gold at the Toyko Olympics.
      And Sir Mo Farah is also out of the event due to injury.
      Birhanu Legese is therefore favourite for the men’s race, while Bridget Kosegei is expected to take the women’s event. More

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      London Marathon live tracker app 2021: Follow your friends and family as they run in the capital

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      THE London Marathon is back as thousands prepare to take to the streets on Sunday.And now, thanks to an app developed by organisers Virgin, you can track the progress of loved ones throughout the 26.2 mile race.
      It’s a chaotic scene around London when the Marathon starts – but you can keep up with how your loved ones are doing with the special appCredit: Rex Features
      How can I track runners at the 2021 London Marathon?
      The Virgin Money London Marathon app allows users to track specific runners and see the leaderboard for the whole race.
      It boasts a variety of exciting features and lets you find and track participants along the race route, helping you to keep up with split times, finishing positions and results throughout the day.
      You can see their progress at every 5k split and track their pace. The app will also predict what time your runner will reach the next 5k checkpoint based on their current pace.
      The app is available on iOS and Android.
      The London Marathon app can tell participants’ split times and also their positionCredit: Rex Features
      What TV channel is the London Marathon on?
      The BBC will be showing coverage of the London Marathon throughout the day.
      It will be on BBC1, BBC Sport Online and red button with different cameras available.
      The red button will give commentary on the elite races and then will offer finish line coverage.
      What time does the race start?
      The 2021 London Marathon will take place on on Sunday, October 3.
      The races take place at:

      9.05am – Elite Wheelchair Races
      9.10am – World Para Athletics Marathon World Cup ambulant races
      9.25am – The Elite Women’s Race
      10.10am – The Elite Men’s Race, British Athletics and England Athletics Marathon Championships and Mass Race

      Who are the favourites?
      Eliud Kipchoge will not be at the race this year after focusing all his attention on winning gold at the Toyko Olympics.
      And Sir Mo Farah is also out of the event due to injury.
      Birhanu Legese is therefore favourite for the men’s race, while Bridget Kosegei is expected to take the women’s event. More

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      Is Eliud Kipchoge running the London Marathon 2021? Age, marathon pace and net worth

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      KENYAN long-distance runner Eliud Kipchoge is no stranger to smashing world records.But what’s the latest achievement the elite athlete has under his belt? We take a look, below.
      Eliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon and formerly the 5000 metresCredit: EPA
      Who is Eliud Kipchoge?
      Eliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in marathons and formerly the 5000 metres.
      The athlete was born on 5 November 1984 in Kapsisiywa, Nandi District of Kenya.
      Kipchoge’s world record run at the 2018 Berlin Marathon broke the previous world record by 1 minute and 18 seconds.
      It was the greatest improvement in a marathon world record time since 1967.
      When he was just 18, he became the senior 5000 m world champion at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics with a championships record.
      He then followed with an Olympic bronze for Kenya in 2004 and a bronze at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
      He switched to road running in 2012 and made the second-fastest ever half marathon debut with 59:25 minutes.
      The Olympic champ, who won the London Marathon for the fourth time earlier this year, missed out as part of Nike’s Breaking 2 project at the Monza grand prix circuit in Italy two years ago.
      But he believed the favourable climate, excellent air quality and almost completely flat terrain in Vienna will help him run to victory.
      Kipchoge now lives with his wife and three children in Eldoret, Kenya.
      The Kenyan, who is considered to be the greatest marathon runner of all-time, took part in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in ViennaCredit: Reuters
      What did he achieve in Vienna?
      Kipchoge made history in 2019 by becoming the first person to run a gruelling marathon in under two hours.
      The 34-year-old smashed his target by 20 seconds to complete the race in 1:59:40 after missing out by just 25 seconds in his first bid two years ago.
      The Kenyan, who is considered to be the greatest marathon runner of all-time, took part in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna today.
      He ran at 13mph and a 1km pace of two-minute 50-seconds – the average speed of traffic in central London is 7mph.
      But his feat will not stand as an official record because it is not in open competition and it uses rotating pacesetters.
      His 41-strong team protected from any head wind, ensure he is on schedule and supply him with drinks as he ran 4.4 laps of a flat, 9.6km circuit.
      There was also a green laser to show Kipchoge where he needed to be in order to beat the record.
      Kipchoge somehow managed to continue running after the race as he met jubilant crowds who had cheered him on for the final sprint.
      Despite not being considered a world record, the bid will still make history – with no one ever running 26.2 miles quicker than 1:59.
      An average runner completes a sub four-hour marathon – with just two per cent of the global running community ever making the distance in under three hours.
      Kipchoge has been training for six months to prepare for today’s marathon at The Prater.
      Kipchoge has made history by becoming the first person to run a gruelling marathon in under two hoursCredit: Reuters

      What’s his net worth?
      Kipchoge has picked up a lot of cheques after beating many world records in his career.
      In Berlin, he received £38,000 for his extraordinary performance.
      He also pocketed £534,000 for a setting a new world record.
      The elite athlete also took home £39,000 by winning the 2019 London Marathon.
      His income is also supplemented through his sponsorship deal with Nike.
      Figures from Whownskenya.com show Kipchoge’s overall net worth sits at an estimated £2.4million.
      Why is he not competing in the London Marathon 2021?
      Kipchoge will sadly not be in London on October 2 to try win back his London crown.
      He ruled himself out of the race earlier in the year to concentrate on the Olympics, where he won Gold in Tokyo.
      That win made him an Olympic champion for a second time and don’t rule him returning to the UK next year for another shot at the London Marathon.
      The runner’s overall net worth sits at an estimated £2.29millionCredit: AP:Associated Press More

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      London Marathon hopeful Charlotte Purdue stopped running late at night in training after Sarah Everard tragedy

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      CHARLOTTE PURDUE refused to go running late at night or through empty parks in training for Sunday’s London Marathon.The safety of women on our streets has become a major talking point following the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard in March.
      Charlotte Purdue refused to train late at night after Sarah Everard’s murderCredit: PA
      Everard, 33, was kidnapped, raped and killed by policeman Wayne Couzens in MarchCredit: Reuters
      Everard, 33, was walking home alone at night when she was kidnapped, raped and killed by policeman Wayne Couzens.
      The serving Met Police officer was this week sentenced to life in prison for his hideous crimes.
      In recent days many women have revealed online their own near-escapes and encounters with dangerous men at night time.
      Purdue, Britain’s fourth fastest woman of all time over 26.2 miles, said: “I’ve been thinking of the Sarah Everard case a lot the last few days.
      “I personally only really run in well-populated places and in the day — not late at night or through empty parks.
      “I hadn’t thought about it much before this whole situation but I definitely have to a lot more now.
      “I run on the treadmill now when it’s dark and in winter because it’s a lot safer. In the day I do feel safe running outside by myself.

      “I’d say more streetlights, and CCTV cameras, stuff like that would help. People have to make their own decision on if they feel safe or where they run.”
      Purdue aims to use the 41st London Marathon — rescheduled from April — to show Team GB selectors were wrong to crush her Olympics dream.
      The 30-year-old ran her PB of 2:25:38 at the 2019 London Marathon but was snubbed for Tokyo — with Brits Stephanie Davis, Jess Piasecki and Steph Twell all flopping in Sapporo.
      It proved a very stressful time for Purdue, who was naturally left ‘gutted’, and she attempted in vain to appeal the decision.
      The Aldershot ace claims there were untruths told about her training and physical condition in the selection meeting, which she was keen to rectify on the record.
      And now seven months on, she feels let down by the lack of communication from UK Athletics about why she was ignored.
      ‘TOOK TIME TO GET OVER IT’
      Purdue said: “It has taken some time to get over what happened.
      “I was advised by the British Athletes Commission and they set me up with some legal advice.
      “When my appeal was unsuccessful, they advised me to write an open letter to UK Athletics boss Jo Coates about the whole situation.
      “I did receive a reply from her in March, a letter basically saying she acknowledged my points but I have had no communication since then.
      “The Olympics is such a big thing and I felt I did deserve a spot in the team. I feel like I could have run well in Tokyo.
      “I definitely haven’t forgotten about it but I just want to move on now and focus on Sunday.
      “The point to prove is more to myself that I’m back to my best rather than me proving anything to someone else.
      “It’s definitely tainted my desire. I’d obviously love to represent GB again but I definitely won’t forget about this whole year and situation.” More

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      London Marathon chaos over fuel crisis with fears runners could struggle to get there along with public transport plea

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      LONDON MARATHON runners have been told to take public transport this weekend due to the nationwide petrol crisis.On Sunday more than 40,000 people will take part in the first full marathon held since the start of the Covid pandemic.
      London Marathon runners have been advised to use public transportCredit: AFP
      Athletics chiefs are confident the 41st staging of the event – which is staged between Greenwich and Westminster – will not be impacted by millions of panic-stricken drivers heading to the fuel pumps to fill up their cars.
      Dozens of vehicles are used during the day of the London Marathon, including transporting elite runners to the start line and cameraman-carrying motorbikes that film the race for BBC TV.
      Yet while most people usually use trains on the day, race director Hugh Brasher has urged everyone involved to leave their cars at home.
      Brasher said: “So we believe that the vast majority of people get to our event using the train system. We do not have concerns at the moment.
      “We encourage and always have done for runners to be sustainable in how they travel.
      “People do have time at the moment to plan this and that people will be getting to the start on the trains.
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      “We’ve been working with Southeastern trains and the DLR to increase numbers of trains to get people to the ExCeL beforehand.
      “We actively encourage people to use the transport system to get to the start.
      “The three stations are Greenwich, Maze Hill and Blackheath, and also the DLR.
      “Those services have been the best way for people to get to the event in its history and will remain that way.
      London Marathon runners have been told to take measures due to the fuel crisisCredit: Getty
      “[The fuel crisis] was one of the things we discussed this morning in our calls but we believe we’re in a good place.”
      More than 40,000 runners will take to the streets of London and about 40,000 will cover 26.2 miles remotely on their own course, making it the biggest marathon race in history.
      Everyone will be expected to provide a lateral flow test before competing and London Marathon bosses reckon “about 96.5% of runners have been double vaccinated”.
      Though the 2022 race has already been pushed back to October – to ease any potential burden on the NHS after the winter period – the London Marathon is set to return to its original slot of April in 2023. More