Saints release Brett Sharman after Mo Farah tweet

Brett Sharman, who posted an offensive tweet about the double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah on Twitter, has been released by Northampton.

The 25-year-old had been under investigation by Saints after he posted the tweet, for which he later made an apology.

The club said Sharman had left Franklin's Gardens because of a knee injury. The hooker missed much of last season and has not featured since January , with Northampton believing there is "no immediate prospect" of a return to full fitness.

In an official club statement, there was no mention of Sharman's tweet, which was posted ahead of Farah's Olympic 5,000 metres final at London 2012 and read: "Good luck Mohammed running for Paki... I mean Great Britain..."

It was deleted shortly after it had been sent, while Sharman made a public apology and closed his Twitter account.