UK Athletics has announced the details of its formal review into the relationship between the athletics coach Alberto Salazar and the British long-distance runner Mo Farah following recent allegations made in a Panorama documentary.
The review was prompted when the programme, screened last week, alleged that Farah’s training partner Galen Rupp had been taking the banned anabolic steroid testosterone since he was 16 under the supervision of the pair’s coach, Alberto Salazar.
The documentary investigated the Nike Oregon Project, the prestigious training camp in America where Farah has been based since 2011, alleging the existence of a culture among some athletes at the camp where rules were stretched, bent – or broken.
UK Athletics said it aimed to have the review completed by the first week of August. In a statement it said: “The performance oversight group, comprising Jason Gardener MBE, Dr Sarah Rowell and Anne Wafula-Strike have begun work on their review, and will aim to conclude their report no later than the first week of August.”
Ed Warner, the chair of UK Athletics, said: “This review is a serious response to the questions raised in recent days. It demonstrates to all athletics fans the importance we place on ensuring that the high performance system around Mo Farah by British Athletics is robust and of the utmost integrity. “We are taking nothing for granted however, and our independent directors are charged with conducting a rigorous review of that system in a timely manner.”
The 29-year-old Rupp, who won 10,000m silver at the London 2012 Olympics behind Farah, was accused in the documentary of being a regular user of the asthma drug prednisone, which is banned in competition. Salazar, who has worked as a consultant for British Athletics since 2013, is said to have mentored Rupp to help him flout strict rules about using intravenous drips. Both men have denied any wrongdoing.
In a statement released to The Guardian on Tuesday, Salazar said his accusers were “knowingly making false statements” and added: “I have said all along that I believe in a clean sport, hard work and I deny all allegations of doping.”
Rupp said: “I have not taken any banned substances and Alberto has never suggested that I take a banned substance.”
Farah was not implicated by the Panorama programme and in a statement he said: “I have not taken any banned substances and Alberto has never suggested that I take a banned substance. From my experience, Alberto and the Oregon project have always followed Wada [World Anti-Doping Agency] rules.”
UK Athletics said the objectives of its review were as follows:
1. To establish whether our organisation’s confidence in the Oregon Project is well founded in regard to Mo Farah’s training programme.
2. To establish whether our organisation’s confidence in the Oregon Project is well founded in regard to UKA’s overall endurance programme.
3. To consider any lessons learned as a result of this specific review for UKA’s overall performance programme.
It added: “In accordance with the Wada code and national anti-doping rules, and having taken advice from UK Anti-Doping, the committee is not to investigate any conduct which might contravene any anti-doping rules. If any suspicion of a doping violation arises at any time, the committee should immediately notify the relevant authority.”
It added: “The committee should seek detailed explanations as to the role of Alberto Salazar as a consultant to UKA.”
Farah pulled out of the Birmingham Diamond League meeting at the weekend, having said earlier that his name was being “dragged through the mud” over the allegations against his coach and insisting that he would stick by Salazar.
“I am not leaving Alberto, for the reason that I’ve not seen any clear evidence,” Farah said. “I have spoken to him and said: ‘What’s going on?’ I said I need answers and he said: ‘Mo, I can prove to you, these are just allegations.’
“But I’m really angry about the situation. It’s not fair. I haven’t done anything, but my name is getting dragged through the mud. My reputation is getting ruined.”
He apologised then to those fans who had bought tickets to see him and he apologised again on Thursday, saying on his Facebook page: “I mentioned at the weekend that the past week has been tough for me, but having spent a few days with my family and having time to reflect, I am feeling much more upbeat.
“However, I do realise that at the weekend I disappointed a lot of people by pulling out of the race and I wanted to apologise again to you all and say a massive thanks for your on-going support. Hope to see you soon!!”
