ATHLETICS COACH ALBERTO Salazar has once again protested his innocence over doping accusations levelled at him and called for a retraction of what he describes as “false statements”.
A BBC investigation earlier this month claimed that Salazar, along with long-distance runner Galen Rupp, had been involved in doping.
Both men vehemently denied the allegations and Salazar published a lengthy open letter on the Nike Oregon Project website on Wednesday in a further attempt to clear his name.
“Recently, the BBC/ProPublica published stories not just attacking me but attacking my athletes and the Oregon Project,” he began.
“Former athletes, contractors and journalists make accusations in these stories, harming my athletes. At best they are misinformed. At worst, they are lying.
“I believe in a clean sport and hard work and so do my athletes. What follows below are the actual facts.
“The Oregon Project will never permit doping and athletes must fully comply with the WADA Code and IAAF Rules.
“We proudly embrace science and technology to give our runners every legal means for success and, more importantly, to protect their health and wellbeing.”
Salazar defended his athlete Rupp, who claimed silver in the Olympic 10,000 metre final at the London Games in 2012 behind training partner Mo Farah.
“Galen suffers from severe allergies and breathing issues. He is medically diagnosed as suffering from both asthma and Hashimotos disease, a thyroid disease,” Salazar said.
“Galen has fully disclosed his asthma and allergy treatment to USADA. Galen has never taken a banned substance in violation of the WADA Code.
“Claims made around Galen’s prednisone use are false. Claims made around Galen’s use of TUEs [Therapeutic Use Exemptions] and manipulation of the TUE system are false. Galen has only received two TUEs in his running career since 2010.”
In the letter, Salazar provides links to documents which he claim prove his innocence, before concluding: “As shown above, supported by the referenced documents, the allegations in the BBC/ProPublica stories are demonstrably false.
“I told both media outlets that their stories contained false information before they were published. I have now offered evidence that they are false.
“I hereby demand the BBC and ProPublica immediately publish a retraction of their false statements.
“Here [at the Oregon Project], success is earned with talent, hard work, dedication and fair play…. and, that’s how it is going to stay. Let the haters hate; we’re going to keep winning through hard work, dedication and fair play.
“I hope you will afford those individuals that have misled you the same demands for proof and substantiation as you have asked of me.”
