Farah to undergo health tests (From Sutton Guardian)

Farah to undergo health tests

3:57pm Thursday 14th January 2010 in Sport By Tom Pollak

Twickenham international Mo Farah is to undergo blood tests after requiring medical attention at the end of a race for the second time in a month.

Farah, who was stretchered off with exhaustion after finishing second at the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin last month, again crossed the line in distress when he finished third in the Bupa Great Edinburgh International 4.2km cross country race, staged over a snowbound course on Saturday.

Paramedics rushed to offer treatment when it seemed there might be a repeat of the Santry Park collapse which forced Farah to miss the post-race medal ceremony but, although unsteady on his feet, on this occasion Farah managed to remain mobile.

“There is something not right but, hopefully, there will be nothing wrong,” said Farah, who started the race at a breakneck pace, which saw him leading by almost 100m at one stage.

“I have got to think positive, not negative, or I will always think there’s something wrong,” added Farah.

“I went off too hard and, at the end, I had nothing left.

“I’ve got to put this to the back of my mind and come back positive. I will come back stronger.”

With the start of the indoor season just weeks away, there are obvious concerns that Farah may not be able to recapture the form that saw him break the British indoor 3,000m record and win the European indoor 3,000m title.

Ian Stewart, UK Athletics’ head of endurance, said: “We are going to have him scanned and screened to make sure he is completely healthy.

“But, to be honest, I don’t think there is too much wrong with him.”

Farah was third in 13 minutes, 28 seconds, eight seconds behind the winner, with former Twickenham-based international Steve Vernon finishing as runner-up.

St Mary’s University College student Mitch Goose was fifth in 13:45.

Teddington-based Andy Baddeley finished seventh in 13:54.

Hampton-based Mike Skinner was eighth and second British finisher in the longer 9km race in 30:01.