British Athletics have confirmed the 2021 London Marathon will act as a trial for Team GB athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games next summer.

The 2020 London Marathon was due to take place in April but was postponed until October 4 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and was originally going to act as an Olympic trial. 

But now British athletes will be competing for Olympic places in the 2021 event if is safe to run.

In a statement, the national governing body said: “British Athletics can today confirm that, subject to the safe return to competition for the sport of athletics, the Virgin Money London Marathon in April 2021 will be the trial race for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“In addition there will be no further marathon team pre-selections.”

The Olympic marathon is due to take place in Sapporo, 800 km north of Tokyo in the rescheduled Games which will now take place in the summer of 2021. 

The 2021 London Marathon will be held on April 25.