(Photo: Creative Commons)
Nadine Osman
Mo Farah insisted he has “nothing to hide” after becoming the latest star to be targeted by Russian hackers.
The four-time Olympic champion’s confidential medical information was leaked online by the Fancy Bears group, which also left Sir Bradley Wiggins facing questions about his regulated use of prohibited substances. Golfer Justin Rose, double Olympic rowing champion Helen Glover and women’s hockey gold medallists Sam Quek and Alex Danson are also listed, although there is no suggestion any of them have done anything wrong.
Farah was shown to have been given an injection of the corticosteroid triamcinolone, which can be used as an anti-inflammatory, in October 2008. He also received intravenous infusions of saline solution, morphine sulphate and took the painkiller vicodin when he was hospitalised in 2014 after collapsing following a training run.
He was given a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) in both instances – official speak for permission to use banned substances to treat a genuine medical condition.
The news comes as Farah claimed an unprecedented third consecutive victory in the Great North Run half-marathon in northeast England on September 11.
The four-time Olympic champion pulled clear of America’s Dathan Ritzenhein to complete the course between Newcastle and South Shields in a time of one hour and four seconds. Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot won the women’s race in her first half-marathon, edging out compatriot Priscah Jeptoo.
