GREAT BRITAIN’S DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah was detained under suspicion of being a terrorist when returning home to Portland, Oregon for Christmas.
The 29-year-old, who won both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the London Games, moved to the Nike headquarters in the United States last year and was looking to join up with his wife and kids for Christmas when he was stopped.
Farah revealed that he attempted to explain who he was by showing his Olympic medals, but that did not help his cause.
“I couldn’t believe it. Because of my Somali origin I get detained every time I come through US Customs. This time I even got my medals out to show who I am, but they wouldn’t have it,” he told The Sun.
Farah had similar problems when trying to get a residency permit to live in Portland.
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After visiting Portland as tourists, he exited the country for Toronto in anticipation of receiving permits on his return to the United States. Farah and his family were told when trying to re-enter the US that they were under investigation as a terrorist threat and would not be allowed in for 90 days.
Luckily, Farah’s coach Alberto Salazar intervened and enlisted the help of a friend of his, a massive athletics fan, in the FBI.
Farah detained in United States under suspicion of being a terrorist
GREAT BRITAIN’S DOUBLE Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah was detained under suspicion of being a terrorist when returning home to Portland, Oregon for Christmas.
The 29-year-old, who won both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the London Games, moved to the Nike headquarters in the United States last year and was looking to join up with his wife and kids for Christmas when he was stopped.
Farah revealed that he attempted to explain who he was by showing his Olympic medals, but that did not help his cause.
“I couldn’t believe it. Because of my Somali origin I get detained every time I come through US Customs. This time I even got my medals out to show who I am, but they wouldn’t have it,” he told The Sun.
After visiting Portland as tourists, he exited the country for Toronto in anticipation of receiving permits on his return to the United States. Farah and his family were told when trying to re-enter the US that they were under investigation as a terrorist threat and would not be allowed in for 90 days.
Luckily, Farah’s coach Alberto Salazar intervened and enlisted the help of a friend of his, a massive athletics fan, in the FBI.
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Mo Farah Profiling Team GB United States