Mo Farah’s coach in explosive drug claims

Olympic star Mo Farah’s coach and training partner have been accused of involvement in doping in another major blow to the credibility of athletics.

An explosive documentary claimed Alberto Salazar, Farah’s coach since 2011, had overseen the use of testosterone and other illicit practices. There was no suggestion that Farah has broken any rules. BBC’s Panorama investigated Salazar’s training regime, the Oregon Project, established by Nike at its Portland headquarters to promote elite runners. More than a dozen people, including athletes, talked about the use of banned products and unethical methods.

One former assistant to Salazar said he saw documentation that showed that Galen Rupp, Farah’s close friend and silver medallist behind the Briton in the 10,000m at the London Olympics, was on testosterone even while a 16-year-old at school.

The accusers include the husband and wife Adam and Kara Goucher, who are both elite runners. Kara, a bronze medallist at 10,000m in the 2007 world championships, said that, struggling to reduce her weight after childbirth, she was told by Salazar to use a thyroid drug even though it had not been prescribed.

After leaving the Salazar group, the Gouchers reported their concerns to Travis Tygart, head of USADA, the American anti-doping agency.

All of the allegations were vehemently denied by Salazar and Rupp. Salazar told the BBC: ‘‘I have always strictly followed WADA rules, seeking guidance from USADA to ensure that my interpretation of WADA’s rules is correct.’’ Rupp said he had ‘‘not taken any banned substances and Alberto has never suggested that I take a banned substance’’.

Kiwi David Howman, chief executive of WADA, said that he was ‘‘disturbed’’ by the allegations, adding: ‘‘That’s why I think it needs to be scrutinised by us as an independent body.’’

The Panorama special, ‘‘Catch Me If You Can’’, also made accusations of doping against Alan Wells, the Briton who won the 100m in Moscow in 1980. Three men have made sworn witness statements implicating Wells in doping and a doctor admitted supplying him with banned drugs, according to the BBC. Wells’s lawyer said ‘‘it is not true our client had used any banned performance drugs at any time’’.

Mark Daly, the documentary presenter, attempted to prove how easy it is for athletes to dope but evade detection by injecting himself with EPO, which taken in small quantities does not show up on a biological passport regulated by anti-doping agencies.