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In the wake of a scandal that has left his longtime coach Alberto Salazar red-faced, the blood samples and medical data of elite British athlete and Olympic champion Mo Farah will be “examined thoroughly” by Athletics UK, who “ want to ensure there’s nothing we’re not aware of.”
Salazar, who coaches Farah and elite American athlete Galen Rupp among others, is at the centre of investigations by the BBC that he has been regularly doping athletes who train under him in order to enhance their performance. Salazar’s one-time second-in-command, Steve Magness, was the whistleblower who went public with allegations that Salazar had advised Galen Rupp, who is Farah’s training partner, to take testosterene supplements, which are banned in competitive sport, from the age of 16. Magness claims to have seen Rupp’s medical documentation from that time, and substantiates his statement thus.
Farah denied all knowledge of the allegations in addition to denying any involvement himself; however, describing himself as “exhausted” and “emotionally drained” when the news broke, he pulled out of the Birmingham edition of the Diamond League Games, saying he would return to playing when he felt 100% fit.
Athletics UK said they wanted to ensure everything had been properly analysed, and that there had been no oversight whatsoever. “What we can look at is all the data surrounding our own athlete, Mo Farah,” said Ed Warner, chairman of UK Athletics. “Blood data, supplements data – everything surrounding his medical treatment, we’re in charge of that...We need to make sure there’s nothing else there we haven’t seen, we’re not aware of, hasn’t been analysed.”
Several other athletes at the Nike Oregon Project, which Farah and Rupp are part of, have come forward with information against Salazar, reaffirming Magness’ allegations of doping his athletes.
Warner suggested that he would have advised Farah to distance himself from the embattled coach, whose reputation is rapidly crumbling around him, saying “Do you know what, the best thing to do is to suspend the relationship for now, compete on the European circuit this summer, go to the world championship in Beijing, let the allegations against Alberto be washed through by Usada, and see where it leads.”
USADA, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, is said to be investigating the claims independently, although as per protocol, it will not comment on ongoing investigations.
