This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
Mo Farah, one of Britain's highest-profile athletes, has broken his silence on the doping scandal surrounding his former coach Alberto Salazar. Farah, a four-time Olympic champion, denied allegations of doping, saying he was never given any banned drugs while a member of the Nike Oregon Project.
Salazar, 61, was slapped with a four-year ban by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in September 2019. Farah waited more than two years after the accusations were first made against Salazar before parting ways with the coach in October 2017.
At a news conference in Chicago on Friday, Farah expressed disappointment in what he considered a line of questioning that has been covered already. He insisted he was clean, saying, "There are no allegations against Mo Farah for any wrongdoing."
Farah, who has never tested positive, added that he is "probably one of the most tested athletes in the world" and is happy to be tested anytime, anywhere. He also said that his success comes from hard work and maturity, not from performance-enhancing drugs.
US distance runners Galen Rupp and Jordan Hasay were also coached by Salazar until last Monday. Rupp said he has not communicated with Salazar since the ban but is supporting his former coach. Hasay, on the other hand, has not had any contact with Salazar since the ban but missed his positivity.
