ATHLETICS IS HIT BY ROW OVER DOPING

UK ANTI-DOPING have issued a fierce criticism of UK Athletics (UKA) over their alleged failure to share information relating to Alberto Salazar in 2015 and have hit out at the independent review into the governing body’s handling of the affair.

The 130-page review, conducted by John Mehrzad QC and published on Friday, made multiple references to communications from UKAD and US Anti-Doping to UKA’s three-person panel that in 2015 looked into whether Mo Farah should remain with Salazar in the wake of damning Panorama allegations.

The message relayed in Mehrzad’s report is that UKA’s panel was firmly instructed by those bodies not to launch their own investigation into doping claims, and having instead adopted a far more narrow look at the mechanics of the relationship with Salazar, the organisation ultimately took the ill-fated step of announcing they had ‘no concern’ with Farah continuing to work under the coach, who in October was banned for four years.

UKAD chief executive officer Nicole Sapstead said: ‘We are disappointed not to have been contacted by John Mehrzad QC as part of this review.

‘Despite numerous references to UK Anti-Doping in the review, at no point were we contacted by the author to contribute, clarify or offer explanation about UKAD’s involvement in any of the matters referenced.

‘We remind UKA that they are bound by the National Anti-Doping Policy.’

UKA have been invited to comment.