Farah splits from Salazar to move back to Britain
Mo Farah has finally confirmed he is to split from his coach Alberto Salazar – but says the move is not related to ongoing anti-doping allegations hanging over the American coach.
Farah has stuck by Salazar since a series of drug allegations first surfaced two years ago, repeatedly refusing to ditch the man who transformed him into a worldbeater since he moved to the United States six years ago.
However, having retired from the track this summer and now preparing to try his luck over the marathon next year, the four-time Olympic champion has announced that he plans to move back to Britain and link up with Gary Lough, who coached Paula Radcliffe, Lough’s wife, to the marathon world record.
“I’m not leaving the Nike Oregon Project and Alberto Salazar because of the doping allegations,” Farah told The Sun. “This situation has been going on for over two years, if I was going to leave because of that I would have done. As I’ve always said, I am a believer in clean sport. If Alberto had crossed the line I would be out the door but Usada [US Anti-doping Agency] has not charged him with anything. If I had ever had any reason to doubt Alberto, I would not have stood by him all this time.
“I’m leaving because my family and I are moving back to London. We all loved spending our summer here and Tania and I realised how much we have missed spending time with our friends and family – and the kids are so happy here, too.
“We want the kids to grow up in the UK. But Nike Oregon Project and Alberto are based in the USA, so it just would not be possible to continue from London.”
Farah’s move to the Nike Oregon Project in 2011 produced four Olympic and six world titles, but it also brought about significant turmoil in recent years amid claims that Salazar was involved in using illegal doping methods. The coach denies all allegations and Farah has never been accused of any doping offences.
Senior figures within UK Athletics had advised Farah to distance himself from Salazar, but Farah insists that has had no bearing on the decision to leave the coach.
“I chose to work with Gary [Lough] over others because I’ve known him for a very long time – since I was 16 – and we get on well,” he added.