Mo Farah declines marathon place at World Championships

The four-time Olympic champion finished fifth in the London Marathon on Sunday – three minutes and two seconds behind winner Eliud Kipchoge – as his road career hit a stumbling block.

Farah broke the European record at the Chicago Marathon last October, but was far from guaranteed a medal over 26.2 miles with 17 athletes running faster in the last 12 months.

He is set to defend his title at the Vitality London 10,000 race later in May, with the Briton thought to be considering the same distance for Doha 2019.

The three-time 10,000m world champion has previously spoken about missing the track.

"Having seen my fellow athletes, who I've competed against in the past, and watching the European Indoor Championships on TV, I was thinking 'Oh man! I want to get back out there'," Farah said in March.

"That's just me. If things are going well and I've got a chance to win a medal, then I'd love to come back and run for my country.

"Part of me when I watch track races I'm like, 'can I still do it? I want to do it'. I do miss the track."

British Athletics announced that the men's line-up in Doha will consist of Callum Hawkins and Dewi Griffiths, with Charlotte Purdue and Tish Jones going in the women's' race.

Farah’s mission to dominate the road circuit during the Kipchoge era looked ambitious and foolish in equal measure. How could the 11th fastest 1,500m runner in history possibly compete over 26.2 miles? The fact he has managed to get the British record, and chalk up a notable win in Chicago, is testament to this generation-defining athlete. But even he has limits.

While Farah obviously possesses legendary stamina, his triumphs on the track have revolved around his unrivalled finishing speed. The marathon rarely comes down to a bunch sprint, with athletes happily playing their cards long before in pursuit of a fast clocking.

The question now is whether Farah can return to the track after a two-year sabbatical and be competitive ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics.