Still…why the name shortening. Doesn’t explain it..unless the British media wanna take out the Islamic reference.
Even in Islamic communities (at least the ones I've visited), like 90% of the men named Mohammed don't go by Mohammed, because there's way too many boys named Mohammed. Most of them go by either their 2nd name, a combination of Mohammed and their 2nd name, or a nickname.
Funny thing is, the ones who go by their 2nd name, when they write their name a lot of them do write Mohammed as "Mo.", but only as the written abbreviation. So Mohammed Hussein Ali would become Mo. Hussein Ali. I've never taken it as being supposed to say "Mo", you still say "Mohammed" just like when you write "Mr." you still say "Mister", but it would be funny if the reason certain athletes get called Mo is derived from that custom.