Alberto Salazar: banned for four years following doping allegations

Sir Mo Farah’s former coach has been banned for a total of four years following doping allegations.  

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What does Alberto Salazar have to say?
What does this mean for the sport?
  • Salazar and Brown receive a four-year ban from the sport
  • Trafficked testosterone and tampered with the doping control process
  • Sir Mo Farah is glad a ruling has finally been made almost three years on
  • Salazar says he was shocked by the outcome and will be appealing 

Chances are you’ve heard of Alberto Salazar, head coach at the Nike Oregon Project which has produced numerous Olympic gold medals has been banned from the sport as of October 1st, 2019.

Sir Mo Farah left Alberto Salazar back in 2017 when Salazar’s name was plastered through the media, and the doping allegations began. The BBC can also confirm this was the same year the coach was first charged by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency).

As of today (01/10/19), in an interview with ITV, Farah says:

He has no tolerance for anyone who breaks the rules or crosses the line.

I’m relieved that USADA has, after four years, completed their investigation into Alberto Salazar,

I left the Nike Oregon Project in 2017 but as I’ve always said, I have no tolerance for anyone who breaks the rules or crosses a line. A ruling has been made and I’m glad there has finally been a conclusion.

CNN mention Alberto Salazar and Jeffery Brown to have been ruled for trafficking testosterone and tampering with the doping control process.

Travis Tygart, boss at USADA says:

The athletes in these cases found the courage to speak out and ultimately exposed the truth.

While acting in connection with the Nike Oregon Project, Mr. Salazar and Dr. Brown demonstrated that winning was more important than the health and well-being of the athletes they were sworn to protect.

What does Alberto Salazar have to say?

Here’s what Salazar had to say in a statement from the Oregon Project:

I am shocked by the outcome today. Throughout this six-year investigation my athletes and I have endured unjust, unethical, and highly damaging treatment from USADA. This is demonstrated by the misleading statement released by Travis Tygart, stating that we put winning ahead of athlete safety. This is completely false and contrary to the findings of the arbitrators, who even wrote about the care I took in complying with the World Anti-Doping code

I have always ensured the WADA code is strictly followed. The Oregon Project has never and will never permit doping. I will appeal and look forward to this unfair and protracted process reaching the conclusion I know to be true. I will not be commenting further at this time.

What does this mean for the sport?

No doubt further investigations will begin to take place with current athletes of the Oregon Project and the past. We can more than likely expect further investigation into Sir Mo Farah and his teammates back in 2017.

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