More than three weeks ago BBC’s investigative TV show Panorama made serious doping claims against Mo Farah’s coach Alberto Salazar.
The US coach, who runs the Nike Oregon Project, has now responded to these allegations with an open letter on the Project’s website.
The letter starts off with Salazar stating: “I believe in a clean sport and hard work and so do my athletes”
He also moved swiftly to clear the Oregon Project’s name of any wrongdoing: “The Oregon Project will never permit doping and athletes must fully comply with the WADA Code and IAAF Rules.”
Other allegations that were made against the former world record holder included the use of testosterone on 2012 Olympic silver medallist Galen Rupp. To this Salazar said: “Galen is one of the hardest working, most honest and genuine athletes I have ever known. Galen has never taken a banned substance in violation of the WADA Code”.
He rounded off his letter by saying: “Here, success is earned with talent, hard work, dedication and fair play…. and, that’s how it is going to stay. Let the haters hate; we’re going to keep winning through hard work, dedication and fair play.”
For now it remains to be seen what will come to light in the forthcoming weeks or even months, but Salazar has remained adamant of his innocence and will continue with his coaching work.
Read Salazar’s open letter in full here.
Who is Alberto Salazar? Find out more here.
