This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
Global athletics boss Sebastian Coe has warned athletes to choose their coaches carefully, following a four-year ban handed to leading American coach Alberto Salazar.
Salazar was banned by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Monday for orchestrating and facilitating prohibited doping conduct as head coach of the Nike Oregon Project (NOP).
Salazar has vowed to appeal the decision, while sportswear giant Nike has pledged to stand by him.
Several athletes, including women's 10,000 meters gold medallist Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands and American Donavan Brazier, who won Tuesday's men's 800 meters, train at the NOP.
“A banned coach has to sever relationships with those athletes. That's what's taking place,” said Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations.
He added that athletes must make their own judgments about their coaches, ensuring they work in a safe and secure environment that won't damage their reputation.
Despite the controversy surrounding Salazar, Coe expressed confidence that the athletes would not be tainted by the USADA ruling.
“No. No. I'm sorry. I don't live in that world where you just automatically assume the worst,” he said.
He also defended the organization of the world athletics championships in Qatar, saying that the athletes were not concerned about the low attendances at the Khalifa stadium.
“They are very pleased to be here,” he said. “Yes, we could have done with more spectators in the stadium, but there are understandable reasons why that has been a challenge.
“They are not talking about (the crowds) and actually, the athletes talking about externalities are probably not the ones who are going to be walking home with medals from here,” he added.
He pointed out that athletes from 28 countries had won medals so far, and that the championships had delivered at a high level.
