A renowned coach who was hoping to earn more glory at the world track and field championships in Doha will no longer be involved with the event after being hit with a four-year ban for doping by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.
Alberto Salazar, who led British runner Mo Farah and American Galen Rupp to Olympic medals, was cited for, among other violations, possessing and trafficking testosterone while training top runners at the Nike Oregon Project, according to a USADA news release.
Along with the Nike -backed distance-running coach, endocrinologist Dr. Jeffrey Brown was also handed a four-year penalty. Brown treated many of Salazar’s athletes.
To reach its ruling in both cases, the USADA said it used more than 2,000 exhibits and nearly 5,800 pages of transcripts, The Associated Press reported.
“The athletes in these cases found the courage to speak out and ultimately exposed the truth,” USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart said in a statement. “While acting in connection with the Nike Oregon Project, Mr. Salazar and Dr. Brown demonstrated that winning was more important than the health and wellbeing of the athletes they were sworn to protect.”
Salazar said he would appeal the decision. “Throughout this six-year investigation my athletes and I have endured unjust, unethical and highly damaging treatment from USADA,” he said, The Wall Street Journal reported.
At the ongoing championship events in Doha, officials warned athletes not to have any further contact with Salazar or else they would be at risk of facing punishment under global antidoping agency rules.
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