KICK OUT ROGUE COACHES, DECLARES McCOLGAN

MARK WOODS

EILISH McCOLGAN believes more rogue coaches should be drummed out of athletics in the wake of Alberto Salazar’s ban. The Dundonian, preparing for tonight’s 5,000 metres final at the World Championships, rejected the idea of moving to his now-tainted Oregon Project several years ago while sponsored by Nike. There are calls for the programme to be disbanded in the wake of a damning report into the doping violations committed by Salazar. ‘There is no smoke without fire,’ said McColgan (right). ‘Would I be comfortable coming from that stable and being around that coach? Probably not. I’m so lucky that I have someone like my mum to show me how the sport should be. ‘There shouldn’t be any grey areas or pushing up to the line. ‘I feel like my mum has showed me you can do it the right way. I’ve told kids in schools: “Yeah, you might never be Olympic champion — but you can try your best and still have a great career in sport”. ‘If I end my career without any Olympic or world medals, will I be disappointed? No, I’ll have had an absolute blast.’ The European Championship medallist produced an accomplished opening heat on Wednesday to progress to the final. Twenty eight years after mum Liz claimed her world title, when Eilish was just nine months old, it feels like a tradition in the family. McColgan said: ‘I probably think about it every championships. People keep reminding me. But it’s something special in my family. My mum coaches me. ‘She is the one doing my programmes. I’ve got such a respect for what she achieved as a clean athlete. ‘That gives me motivation to do good things in the sport and achieve medals. I could come first or last, but I’ll know I’ve given my all. ‘For the Olympics next year, this is a huge stepping stone. It gives us a lot of information on what we need to work at. How strong these girls are. ‘And how I can do the 10,000m and then bounce back to do the 5,000m. That’s exciting for me.’