DORCHESTER athletics sensation Paul Blake has expressed his frustration at the disappearance of the 800m distance from the list of T36 races at Tokyo 2020.

Blake, 27, suffers from cerebral palsy, is the reigning Paralympic champion over 400m and has won the past two 800m golds in the T36 category.

But the Dorset athlete, who races in the 200m T36 final today, told Echosport he is dismayed with the decision to axe one of his specialties from the roster – a move which has also led to a cut in funding for the event.

“They’re not doing the 800m in Tokyo in the 36, so I’m doing the 100, 200 and 400m for my classification. I’m just concentrating on my sprints a lot more.

“It’s really frustrating. We had to beg for the 800 to be put back in for 2015 in Doha. We won the appeal for that and to defend my title was amazing. It’s a real shame that they have got rid of it.

“There’s a lot of talent coming through for the cerebral palsy events.

They’re (British Paralympic Association) not funding me for the 800 so there’s no point in running it in London,” he said.

Blake will instead compete in the 100, 200 and 400m events, but is not hopeful of a Paralympic return for the 800m.

“The IPC (International Paralympic Committee) have changed their way of introducing new sports.

“I don’t think the 800 will come back. I wish it would, but the only way it could come back is if all the other athletes come in and have their say. It’s an impossible task,” he added.