New doubt over Salazar’s role in Mo’s medication
THE claims made by UK Athletics officials to a parliamentary committee about the control Alberto Salazar had over Mo Farah’s medical care have been called into question by new evidence seen by Sportsmail. Barry Fudge, head of endurance at UKA, dismissed the suggestion made by MPs that an American coach with no medical background was dictating dosage levels and other medication given to Farah. Fudge said Salazar would certainly not have been aware of precise dosages, insisting that Farah’s medical care was under the control of UKA doctors with Fudge acting as the conduit. UKA chairman Ed Warner told the Department of Culture, Media and Sport select committee that the governing body’s medical team ‘took control’ after their doctor, John Rogers, visited a training camp in the French Pyrenees ahead of the World Championships in Daegu in August 2011. While UKA declined to comment,
Sportsmail was contacted by a former Nike Oregon Project employee yesterday who was surprised by the evidence, saying: ‘My recollection is that Alberto saw the UK doctors as a bit of a nuisance at times. He was very much in control.’ Emails seen by Sportsmail reveal the extent of Salazar’s involvement in Farah’s medical care, even after Rogers flagged up concerns in summer 2011. One email sent by Salazar to Nike staff on September 27, 2011, while not specific to Farah, discusses infusions in detail. Another, sent on December 14, 2011 by Salazar to staff, concerns Farah’s medication directly. Salazar writes he wants ‘to get Mo another magnesium infusion’. The email states that the ‘UK doctors said he’s a little low and it could be what’s causing him to be tired in workouts’, but Salazar then orders an additional treatment. ‘Also he and Galen (Rupp, Farah’s training partner) could each get a Vit B (vitamin B) shot since it’s been 6 months since their last shot,’ he writes. Another suggests that specific ‘recommendations’ UKA doctors make regarding Farah’s care are sent directly to Salazar. Sent by Dr Noel Pollock, now UK Athletics’ chief medical officer, on August 8, 2011, it discusses iron and magnesium injections but includes recommended dosage levels. Fudge said Salazar would not have had any influence on the amount of the supplement L-carnitine, given to Farah before the 2014 London Marathon. ‘I created the dosage. I don’t think Alberto would know what the dosage would be for L-carnitine,’ he said.