Mo Farah's coach optimistic of proving doping accusations wrong

London, June 9: Two-time Olympic champion Mo Farah’s coach Alberto Salazar says he will show his accusers are “knowingly making false statements” as he continues to deny doping claims.

Salazar, who coaches Farah, 32, in the United States, denies allegations made in a BBC investigation that he has practised doping techniques. Britain’s world and Olympic champion in 5000 metres and 10000 metres, Farah has been advised to distance himself from Salazar and his US-based Nike Oregon Project.

There is no suggestion that Farah himself has been involved in doping. It was alleged Salazar, who became Farah’s coach in 2011, violated anti-doping rules and doped United States 10,000 metres record holder Galen Rupp in 2002 when the athlete was 16 years old.

“I will document and present the facts as quickly as I can so that Galen and Mo can focus on doing what they love and have worked so hard to achieve,” Salazar was quoted as saying by bbc.com on Tuesday.

“I have said all along that I believe in a clean sport, hard work and I deny all allegations of doping.”

British Olympic Association chairman Sebastian Coe, who is running for the presidentship of the Intertiol Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), has defended the reputation of Salazar and believes he will mount a “robust” defence.

UK Athletics (UKA) has started a review of the “performance magement system” around Farah, including looking again at the long distance runner’s “data”, a process which UKA chairman Ed Warner says will take “weeks rather than months” to complete.

The US Anti-Doping Agency has not confirmed whether it is investigating the claims against Salazar, but World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president Craig Reedie has said the situation should be investigated. IANS