RIATH AL-SAMARRAI IN CHICAGO: Mo Farah finished a disappointing eighth in the Chicago Marathon - his worst ever time in the event while Paula Radcliffe's 16-year world record was beaten.

Leading athletes from Team GB have taken the extraordinary step of launching legal action against the British Olympic Association over 'ridiculous' marketing rules.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: Sir Mo Farah has put the brakes on his marathon career to target a fifth Olympic 10,000m gold in Tokyo next summer.

The British Olympic Association have said they are 'dismayed' by the legal challenge being pursued by a group of leading athletes against their marketing rules and have issued a robust comeback.

Ahmed Farah, 30, was sent to his birthplace by British authorities after he was freed from jail for a knife raid in Southall, West London in 2010. He would now like the chance to return to the UK.

Distance legend Kenenisa Bekele has revealed he will go head to head with Eliud Kipchoge in a fascinating clash of the titans at the London Marathon in April.

Mo Farah will launch his 2020 season in London after confirming he will run the Vitality Big Half on March 1. Sportsmail reported last week that Farah was in talks to run in the capital.

EXCLUSIVE REPORT BY ROB DRAPER: A former elite athlete believes her thyroid medication was mishandled by Rob Chakraverty, leading to issues which ended her career at the top level.

In 2017, Ed Warner noted Dr Rob Chakraverty's sloppy documentation of an injection to Sir Mo Farah had been logged in his annual appraisal. It looks now to be a matter for his permanent record.

Sir Mo Farah faces a spicy showdown with former training partner Galen Rupp and controversial ex-coach Alberto Salazar after confirming he will run the Chicago Marathon on October 7.

Tokyo 2020 organisers have been forced to act in the face of serious warnings over the risk to the athletes in summer temperatures that regular exceed 35 degrees and 80 per cent humidity.

EXCLUSIVE BY RIATH AL-SAMARRAI: The heated marketing row that casts a shadow over Team GB's preparations for the Tokyo Olympics is expected to be resolved next week.

It's Hot or Not time again as Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai reveals what's been making him feel warm and what's been leaving him cold this week.

England doctor Rob Chakraverty has left his role with the Football Association with immediate effect after revelations about his involvement with Mo Farah.

Mo Farah insists he will be prepared to race at the rescheduled Olympics next year. The Tokyo Games were postponed last week due to coronavirus.

Britain's top sports stars including Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, Sir Mo Farah and Ben Stokes have encouraged the nation to stay fit during the coronavirus lockown.

Northern Ireland's Euro 2020 qualifying hopes survived a scare as substitutes Conor Washington and Josh Magennis scored twice in four minutes to snatch a 2-1 win in Estonia.

After Saturday's dramatic come-from-behind win over Estonia in Tallinn, victory for the Green and White would put them on 12 points from four games.

The 28-year-old midfielder made the announcement on Monday, wanting to concentrate on his club career with Sheffield United - who are back in the Premier League after a 12-year absence.

There is no place for Lafferty, nor his former Rangers team-mate Gareth McAuley, who is without a club after be released at the end of the season.

Ilkay Gundogan has pulled out of the Germany squad to face Northern Ireland in Belfast on Monday night through illness. The Manchester City midfielder is suffering from a cold.

The 39-year-old, who scored nine times in 80 appearances for his country and played at Euro 2016, was a free agent after leaving Rangers at the end of last season.

Norwich full-back Jamal Lewis has been included in the Northern Ireland squad for the their games against Netherlands and Crech Republic despite suffering an elbow injury.

The partnership will see the BT logo appear on the training kits worn by the men's, women's, youth and disability teams of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from November.

Paddy McNair is hoping Holland underestimate Northern Ireland in their Euro 2020 qualifier in Rotterdam. Northern Ireland need to win in order to keep their dreams of reaching the finals alive.

There is plenty at stake over the next fortnight with teams on the brink of qualifying for the European Championships in 2020, while some nations hit the road for some eagerly-anticipated friendlies.

With Holland due in Belfast next month, both teams are viewing the double-header as a head-to-head battle for a ticket to Euro 2020, and Koeman is wary of the threat posed by Michael O'Neill's side.

Both teams are talking up this match and the return fixture in Belfast next month as effectively being a play-off for a place in next summer's finals. Holland have missed tournaments in a row.

October 13, 1976. Best's career was on the wane. He had turned 30 that summer and come back from his first stint in the US with Los Angeles Aztecs.

Holland left it late to turn the game around against Northern Ireland and run out winners in Rotterdam. Wales secured a well earned point in Slovakia while Scotland crashed to a heavy defeat in Russia.

CHRIS WHEELER AT DE KUIP STADIUM: Holland and Northern Ireland battled in a close game in their Euro 2020 Group C qualifying match on Thursday night. 

The two teams took part in a minute's applause to honour the memory of the Rangers legend who passed away last month following a six-year battle with motor neurone disease.

The hosts of the 2030 World Cup will only have six years to prepare for the tournament. The FIFA Council decided at a meeting Thursday that the bidding process will be launched in 2022.

The Real Madrid man is in line to make his 95th international appearance after a muscle tear ruled him out of the friendly draw with Argentina and qualifying win over Estonia in September.

The Leicester defender is confident his country will remain on track despite O'Neill joining Stoke. But the manager will still take their final Euro 2020 qualifiers against Holland and Germany.

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for Euro 2020 play-offs including when they will begin, how the play-offs work, play-offs format, teams involved and more.

Michael O'Neill's men still have a very slim chance of qualifying automatically but must beat Holland on Saturday evening. Join KIERAN JACKSON for full commentary of the Group C clash.

CHRIS WHEELER AT WINDSOR PARK: A goalless draw was enough to send Holland through to Euro 2020 and render Northern Ireland's final Group C game against Germany meaningless.

Captain Steven Davis skied his spot-kick just after the half-hour mark. Northern Ireland manager O'Neill said: 'It was a big moment for him, he knows that. You sense his disappointment.'

CHRIS WHEELER IN FRANKFURT: O'Neill's side complete their Group C campaign against the Germans in Frankfurt Tuesday night after Saturday's draw with Holland.

After a career in top-level football spanning nearly three decades, Ryan Giggs will finally fulfil his dream of competing at a major tournament with Wales.

CHRIS WHEELER IN FRANKFURT: A hat-trick from former Arsenal player Serge Gnabry sank Northern Ireland as their Group C campaign ended with a heavy defeat in Frankfurt.

Steve Clarke's team flopped in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, but their performance in last season's Nations League was enough to give them a second chance of reaching next summer's finals.

Northern Ireland striker Lafferty finds himself plying his trade around 90km south of Oslo and on the cusp of dragging Sarpborg 08 away from relegation and with another move in mind.

Former Manchester United and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Harry Gregg died on February 16, 2020 at the age of 87. He gave his final interview to Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman back in 2017.

A mutual decision was made for O'Neill to leave his position due to proposed revised international match scheduling by UEFA in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael O'Neill has turned his back on a £500,000 Euro 2020 bonus after stepping down as Northern Ireland manager on Wednesday.

Davis has yet to take any steps towards a new career in the technical area. However, the idea of giving up the game when he can no longer dictate play on the pitch is not one he is willing to entertain.

Former X Factor star Joey Hadjia, formerly Joelle, 26, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a very close-up snap of her pert derrière in a lengthy 'body transformation' post.

She is no stranger to the spotlight, so it's unsurprising Samantha Jade has also experienced the dark side of fame.