Farah frustrated over repeated allegations
SIR Mo Farah insisted last night he was a “clean athlete” and spoke of his “deep frustration” about continually having to defend himself after a leaked report suggested his coach Alberto Salazar may have broken anti-doping rules to boost the performance of some of his athletes.
Salazar, who is also a consultant to UK Athletics (UKA), is no stranger to controversy, having been under investigation ever since a BBC Panorama programme made allegations about use of drugs at his US training base in 2015.
While Salazar and Farah deny ever breaking anti-doping rules, the Sunday Times yesterday claimed the leaked report alleges Salazar routinely gave Farah and other athletes at the Nike Oregon Project legal prescription drugs with potentially harmful side-effects without a justifiable medical reason.
“It’s deeply frustrating that I’m having to make an announcement on this subject,” said 33-year-old Farah, who has won 5,000m and 10,000m gold at the past two Olympics, in a statement.
“If Usada or any other antidoping body has evidence of wrongdoing they should publish it and take action rather than allow the media to be judge and jury.
“I am a clean athlete who has never broken the rules in regards to substances, methods or dosages and it is upsetting that some parts of the media, despite the clear facts, continue to try to associate me with allegations of drug misuse.
“I do understand that using my name makes the story more interesting but it’s entirely unfair to make assertions when it is clear from their own statements that I have done nothing wrong,” added Farah, who will retire from the track after this summer’s World Athletics Championships in London.
“As I’ve said many times before, we all should do everything we can to have a clean sport and it is right that anyone who breaks the rules should be punished.”
UK Athletics said it stood by the findings of an investigation published in 2016 that found “there was no evidence of any impropriety on the part of Farah and no reason to lack confidence in his training programme”.