All Salazar athletes should be probed, says IOC chief

The most powerful man in sport last night ordered checks on whether all athletes to have worked with Mo Farah’s disgraced former coach had been investigated for potential drug offences.

Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, announced he would write to the World Anti-doping Agency to seek clarity on how many runners had been probed as part of an inquiry that this week led to Alberto Salazar being banned for four years.

Bach branded the scandal “very worrying” and said it raised “serious concerns”.

Speaking at a news conference, he added: “We are confident that Wada will look into this case very carefully and will follow up on questions which remain after this report. The IOC will write a letter to Wada in this respect.”

Asked what information would be sought, Bach replied: “To see how many athletes have been investigated. Have all the athletes been investigated who have been training in this centre?

“Does the report address the whole period of the existence of this project or only part of it? Could any Olympic results directly or indirectly be affected?

“We learned from the report that the athletes would not have known what happened to them – this is an important factor when looking at sanctions, but disqualification is mandatory whether the athlete knows or not.

“We are very confident that Wada is looking at this anyway, so we are waiting for the advice from Wada in this respect.”

The case against Nike Oregon Project founder Salazar, the world’s most famous running coach, and his co-defendant Dr Jeffrey Brown was brought by the United States Anti-doping Agency, but Wada has the right of appeal against the outcome.

It said in a statement: “Wada notes the decisions passed down in the cases of Alberto Salazar and Jeffrey Brown in connection to their involvement in the Nike Oregon Project. As always, Wada will review all elements of this case.”

Salazar, who said he will appeal the judgment, coached Farah from 2011 until 2017.

The 36-year-old Farah has never failed a drugs test and has always strongly denied breaking any rules.

Responding to Salazar’s ban on Tuesday, he said: “I left the Nike Oregon Project in 2017 but, as I’ve always said, I have no tolerance for anyone who breaks the rules.”