Star running coach Alberto Salazar strenuously denied doping allegations made against him, saying he believes in “a clean sport and hard work.” In a lengthy and detailed open letter on the website of the Nike Oregon Project, the program he oversees, Salazar addressed allegations made in a recent BBC Panorama program which accused him of violating anti-doping rules.
The documentary alleged that Salazar was involved in doping American Galen Rupp, the 10,000 meters silver medalist at the 2012 London Olympics behind Farah, in 2002 and claimed that some of the coach’s methods included the use of banned steroids and unethical practices.
In a letter about 12,000 words long, Salazar insisted he would never permit doping from his athletes and demanded the allegations made against him are withdrawn by the BBC and American-based investigative journalism organization ProPublica.
He said: “I believe in a clean sport and hard work and so do my athletes. The Oregon Project will never permit doping and athletes must fully comply with the WADA Code and IAAF Rules.
“I will never permit doping. Oregon Project athletes must fully comply with the WADA Code and IAAF Rules,” Salazar stated.
The full letter is here.
