UK Athletics give Farah’s coach the all-clear

BBC documentary had accused Salazar of encouraging doping

BIRMINGHAM: Alberto Salazar’s coaching of Olympic and world champion Mo Farah is not a worry for UK Athletics (UKA) despite allegations made in a BBC documentary, said the UK athletics governing body in a statement on Saturday.

The documentary, broadcasted on Wednesday, alleged Salazar, 56, had encouraged athletes including America’s Olympic 10,000 metres silver medallist Galen Rupp to use illegal substances.

However, UKA said after viewing the documentary there was nothing to concern them about Salazar’s work with Farah, who has enjoyed unrivalled success under his tutelage doing the double in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at the 2012 Olympics, 2013 World Championships and last year’s European Championships.

“Following the broadcast of BBC’s Panorama programme on Wednesday, UK Athletics has carefully considered the content,” read a statement. “Whilst acknowledging the gravity of the allegations, UK Athletics can confirm it has had absolutely no concerns over the conduct and coaching methods of Alberto Salazar in relation to Mo Farah or in his role as an endurance consultant.”

Nevertheless, despite giving Salazar a clean bill of health, the UKA statement added that its board had met and put in place a group to undertake a “focused review of the performance management system surrounding Mo Farah and the endurance programme, engaging relevant independent experts where required.”

The review will begin immediately, and has been “welcomed and supported” by Farah and UKA performance director Neil Black.

Both Salazar, who runs Nike’s Oregon Project training centre, and Rupp strongly deny all allegations of wrongdoing and none of the athletes from the project have ever failed a drug test.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2015.

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