“Please break off relations with him”: IAAF supported USADA's decision to disqualify American coach Salazar

“Between us exclusively business relations”

The events of the World Athletics Championships, taking place these days in Doha, temporarily receded into the background due to a scandal in the center of which turned out to be one of the most famous coaches Alberto Salazar. The specialist was suspended for four years from professional activity in connection with allegations of promoting the violation of anti-doping rules.

President of the International Federation of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Sebastian Coe called on athletes currently training under his leadership to immediately stop this cooperation.

“When you have been in sports for as long as I do, friendship and relationships go a long way. Alberto and I set records at the same time. The USADA accusations are very serious, and now between us exclusively business relations. The Athletics Integrity Unit is in touch with athletes in the Oregon camp and asks them to break off this relationship, ”Coe told The Guardian.

Salazar was disqualified by an investigation conducted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for several years. The reason for its start was the statement of the participants of the Nike Oregon Project camp, including the silver medalist of the 2007 World Cup in the 10,000 m race, Kara Gucher, about the existence of a doping system as part of the training program. It was reported that the specialist, as well as the doctor Jeffrey Brown, were engaged in the supply of illegal drugs, threatening to force their wards to take them, and carried out fraud during testing.

In 2017, the coach was charged, but he completely denied his guilt. About 30 people acted as witnesses. Based on their testimony, USADA found Salazar guilty. In an official statement by the agency, his actions were sharply criticized, since "victories for him were more important than the health and condition of the athletes." Brown received four years of disqualification.

Despite the investigation, the specialist continued his professional activities and, together with the wards, attended the world championship in Doha. However, after the USADA verdict, the athletics authorities deprived him of accreditation for the tournament.

The American himself still insists on his innocence. He admitted that the decision of the US anti-doping agency shocked him.

“During the investigation, which lasted six years, my athletes and I experienced an unfair, unethical, and extremely harmful attitude from the USADA. This is confirmed by an untrue statement by Travis Tigart (President of USADA. - RT ) that we put victory above the safety of the athlete. This is absolutely wrong and contradicts the conclusions of the arbitrators who examined the case, ”the specialist said in an official statement.

In addition, he stressed that he intends to file an appeal in the near future.

“Finally it's over.”

One of the most famous wards of Salazar is the British runner Mo Farah. In 2011, he joined the training camp in Oregon, after which he achieved major successes in his career, including winning four Olympic gold medals at distances of 5,000 and 10,000 meters, and also became a six-time world champion. In October 2017, he stopped working with an American, focusing on performing in marathons.

It was reported that after the breakup, the runner and the coach remained in a good relationship. Despite this, Fara supported the decision of USADA.

“I was relieved that the USADA completed the investigation into Salazar. I left the Nike Oregon Project in 2017, but, as I always said, I am uncompromising towards anyone who breaks the rules and crosses the line. I am glad that this has finally ended, ”journalist Dan Roan quoted the British as saying.

At the same time, the four-time Olympic champion was criticized by a number of witnesses who opposed Salazar. So, coach Steve Magness doubted the Briton’s words, urging him to explain why he remained in Oregon after the investigation began.

“People make mistakes, but they must admit it, and that’s why Farah and many other athletes at whom this happened must answer a number of questions,” the specialist noted.

In defense of Farah, as well as other runners who collaborated with Salazar and in this regard fell under suspicion of doping, the 1983 world champion Steve Cram spoke.

“Mo trusted the people in his team until he decided to change everything. Farah is a great champion; he did nothing wrong. You can not blame him by analogy with others. Nobody has ever proved his guilt, it must be accepted. People will draw conclusions themselves, but now there’s nothing to blame him for, ”Cram said in an interview with the BBC.

At the same time, he added that he considers the punishment of a specialist fair. This view was supported by other representatives of the world of athletics, including participants in the training camp. At the moment, several of his representatives are playing at the World Championships in Doha.

So, Donovan Breziere, who won gold at a distance of 800 meters on the eve, emphasized that during his entire stay in the camp he practically did not intersect with Salazar, and all his achievements were connected with the name of his personal mentor Pete Julian.

“I have never been offered to train under the guidance of Alberto. I did not know that an investigation was underway. When it began, I was not familiar with him, and even now I do not quite understand what it is about. We talked only once, and he left a good impression. I like him, cool. I think his disqualification is a big disappointment, ”quotes Breziere Eurosport.

Interestingly, in the Salazar case, the name of the famous American cyclist Lance Armstrong appears, in 2012, deprived of seven titles of the winner of the Tour de France multi-day race due to the use of illegal drugs.

During the investigation, it was found that in December 2011 the coach contacted the athlete and offered him a drug based on levocarnitine. However, the ex-cyclist himself denied allegations of using this substance.