Mo Farah withdraws from 1500m race at Sunday's Diamond League meeting in Birmingham days after doping allegations against Coach Alberto Salazar

Mo Farah has withdrawn from the 1500m at Sunday's Diamond League meeting in Birmingham 

Mo Farah has withdrawn from the 1500m race at Sunday's Diamond League meeting in Birmingham.

The double Olympic champion from the 2012 London Games said he was 'emotionally and physically drained' after a week in which a BBC investigation alleged his coach Alberto Salazar had been involved in doping.

There is no suggestion that Farah has done anything wrong but he admitted at a press conference on Saturday he was 'angry' his name had 'been dragged through the mud.' 

Mo Farah is angered by his being associated with performance enhancing drugs allegations against his coach 

Farah has withdrawn from the 1500m race at Sunday's Diamond League meeting in Birmingham  

In a statement released on Sunday morning, Farah said: 'This week has been very stressful and taken a lot out of me.

'I have not been able to focus properly on today's race and after the events of the last few days I feel emotionally and physically drained.

'I want to run well in the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in Beijing and have decided it is better for me to go back to the US, seek answers to my question and get back into training.

'I apologise to the people who bought tickets to come and watch me race and ask for your understanding at this time.' 

Coach Alberto Salazar, pictured with Farah (right) and US athlete Galen Rupp at the London 2012 Games has been at the centre of doping allegations this week following revelations in a BBC documentary 

Farah said he has sought assurances from Salazar that he has not been involved in doping

Farah, 32, admitted on Saturday his reputation has been damaged by the allegations against Salazar in the Panorama programme 'Catch me if you can', broadcast on Wednesday evening.

And he insisted he will sever all ties with the American if he is unable to disprove the explosive claims made.

But Farah and British Athletics officials left themselves open to criticism by failing to temporarily cut ties with Salazar while the scandal around him and the Nike Oregon Project is investigated. 

Speaking on Saturday, Farah said: 'I am not leaving Alberto as I have not seen any clear evidence. I spoke to him last night and I asked "What's going on? I need some answers."

'He said, "Mo, I can prove this to you, they are just allegations, I will show you evidence. I am really angry, it's not right.

'I haven't done anything but my name is getting dragged through the mud. My reputation is being ruined, you guys are killing me.

'I'm a clean athlete, I'm against drugs 100 per cent, and I believe anyone that is caught should be banned for life.

'If the allegations turn out to be true and Alberto has crossed the line then I will be the first person to leave him.

'It's just not right, not fair, that something I worked so hard for... but my name is associated with Alberto and it's all Mo, Mo, Mo.' 

Speaking at the same press conference, Farah was certain he was still going to run in Birmingham.

He said: 'I've got a big race this weekend. It's affecting me for sure, making me think, and I don't want to be thinking about this. But I've got to deal with it.

'As soon as the race is over I'll go over to Portland, sit down with him and try to get clear evidence that shows this is just allegations.'

Asked whether he still expected a warm reception from the crowd in Birmingham, Farah added: 'I hope I do, because it's about Alberto and I haven't done anything.

'It's not about me and I hope the public will understand that.' 

Briton Farah finished ahead of Rupp in the 10,000m final at the London 2012 Games

Salazar embraces Farah and Rupp following the 5,000m final at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu 

The BBC programme alleged that Salazar was involved in doping his athlete Galen Rupp, silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics behind Farah in the 10,000 metres, when the American was only 16 years of age.

Salazar, who won the New York marathon three years in a row between 1980 and 1982 and was also a Boston marathon winner, has worked with Farah since 2011 and has coached the Briton's training partner, Rupp for 14 years.

Neither Salazar nor Rupp appeared in the BBC programme, but both men protested their innocence in statements.

There is no suggestion that Farah has broken any rules, and the Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion has stressed he had nothing to hide.