Mo Farah gives full backing to coach Alberto Salazar despite doping allegations
MO FARAH yesterday gave his full backing to his scandal-hit coach Alberto Salazar.
Farah, Britain's double Olympic champion, revealed he "believes" in Salazar who has been at the centre of doping allegations made by BBC's Panorama and will stay being trained by him.
"Following all the speculation I want to make it clear where I stand," said Farah. "Although it's been a difficult time, I asked Alberto to respond to the allegations made against him and he has now done so in full.
"As someone I've worked with for many years, I feel I have to believe in Alberto and the evidence he has provided. Based on that evidence, I will continue to work with him and hope now that I can focus on what I do best - training hard to win medals for my country."
On Wednesday, Salazar, 56, hit back sgainst the claims made by Panorama over allegations of doping and that testosterone medication was used on Farah's training partner Galen Rupp in 2002.
There has been no suggestion Farah has done anything wrong.
Salazar's response was nearly 12,000 words long and after winning the 10,000m at the USA championships in Eugene on Thursday, Rupp also backed his coach.
He said: "I think the truth will prevail. I stand behind him [Salazar] 100 per cent. I believe in clean sport."
Farah is set to return to the track for the first time since the allegations broke when he runs in the 5000m at the Diamond League in Lausanne on July 9.
The allegations against Salazar included a claim by United States distance runner Kara Goucher that in 2011 he recommended she take the thyroid medication Cytomel in order to lose weight.
Farah: Salazar doping claims angering [AMBIENT]
In his response, Salazar insisted he had never criticised Goucher's weight and that Goucher's own endocrinologist had directed him to give her Cytomel.
Goucher responded yesterday by saying she and her husband Adam had approached the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) with their concerns.
She said on Twitter: "Unfortunately, Alberto's false statements and one-sided, partial stories don't tell the truth. Adam and I went to USADA in February 2013 when we had concerns about what we had experienced at the Oregon Project."
UK Athletics, which has ordered an independent review into the allegations, said it respected Farah's decision.
The governing body's chief executive Niels de Vos said: "British Athletics note and respect Mo Farah's decision to continue his coaching relationship with Alberto Salazar.
"As is normal at this time of the year Mo is currently training at altitude under the guidance of British Athletics as he prepares for the August defence of his world titles in Beijing."