Britain’s four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah has supported the move by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in banning his former coach Alberto Salazar over doping allegations.
Alberto Salazar, who was Mo Farah’s coach between 2011 and 2017 was recently given a four-year ban for doping violations, and speaking on the issue, Farah insisted that he would not support anyone who goes against the rules of the game.
“I’m relieved that USADA has, after four years, completed their investigation into Alberto Salazar,” Farah said in a statement.
Farah went ahead to deny his decision to leave the Nike Oregon Project, in October 2017, was to do with the doping claims. “I left the Nike Oregon Project in 2017 but as I’ve always said, I have no tolerance for anyone who breaks the rules or crosses a line. A ruling has been made and I’m glad there has finally been a conclusion, ” he said.
The 36-year-old athlete,who is better known as Sir Mohamed Muktar Jama Farah, CBE, OLY, for his supreme performance in the game, worked with Salazar at the Nike Oregon Project (NOP) and during that time (from 2011 to 2017) he won four Olympic gold medals at 5 000 metres and 10, 000m.
The 61-year-old American (Alberto Salazar) was suspended following a year-long investigation by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and a prolonged battle behind closed doors, the agency said. Jeffrey Brown, a Texas endocrinologist who treated many of Salazar’s athletes at his Nike-backed Oregon Project, was also suspended for four years.
However, Salazar denies the accusations and intends to appeal against the sanctions.