THE FRESH TWISTS IN DOPING SCANDAL

What is new?

A report by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which suggested Mo Farah’s coach Alberto Salazar might have broken anti-doping rules, has been leaked.

Who leaked the report?

Russian hackers Fancy Bears leaked documents to the

Sunday Times. Fancy Bears are the same group who leaked the medical records of Sir Bradley Wiggins and other Olympians last year.

What does the report say?

The March 2016 report claimed to have ‘substantial and compelling evidence’ that Salazar and the Nike Oregon Project team doctor, Jeffrey Brown, ‘conspired to collude’ together to use medications in sometimes ‘potentially unlawful’ ways.

What is Nike Oregon Project?

Created in 2011 to promote American distance-running, it is funded by the sportswear firm and its premises are at the company headquarters in Oregon. Salazar was appointed head coach and recruited many of the country’s best distance-runners, including Kara Goucher and Galen Rupp, who later became Mo Farah’s training partner.

What else is in the report?

They carried out an experiment on Steve Magness, a former Nike coach, using an infusion of amino acid L- carnitine to test its performance enhancing effects.

What is L-carnitine and is it banned?

It is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative that’s often taken as a weight loss supplement. It is legal unless administered intravenously in a quantity of more than 50ml in a six-hour period. The test done on Magness involved an estimated 1-litre in four hours.

How does this affect Farah?

There is no evidence to suggest any wrong-doing by the Briton, but he is likely to face more pressure to part company with Salazar.