Mo Farah has called on Alberto Salazar to prove his innocence to the public and says he will sever ties with his coach with immediate effect if the American is found guilty of any wrongdoing.
In his first interview since a fiery press conference on the eve of the Birmingham Diamond League meeting early last month, the double Olympic champion also urged Salazar's accusers to go to the authorities.
To date, Farah has stood by the Cuban-born coach responsible for guiding him to double Olympic, World and European titles, despite a multitude of whistleblowers - ranging from former Nike Oregon Project athlete Kara Goucher to ex-NOP coach Steve Magness - alleging doping practices by Salazar, claims he has strongly refuted.
But yesterday, Farah told Sky Sports: “I believe in him but there's no point in me just believing in him. He needs to prove it to the public. I want those people [speaking out] to go to the right authorities, not just the media. I encourage anyone, Kara or anyone, to go to the right people. Let's get to the bottom of this. It's killing me and my family.”
It is thought that some 20 different sources have raised concerns about Salazar's methods, from the alleged use of testosterone to the misuse of medical therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs), claims rejected by Salazar in a 12,000-word rebuttal last week.
Farah, bidding to defend his 5,000m and 10,000m world titles in Beijing next month, has kept the American as his coach despite the ongoing furore but admitted they could yet part ways.
“If more people come out and it's proven that he's crossed the line, then I'm the first person out,” said the 32-year-old Londoner. “Why would I be there?”
On Monday, UK Anti-Doping announced that it had launched its own investigation into the allegations first aired in the BBC Panorama programme “Catch Me If You Can” a month ago, while the United States Anti-Doping Agency is already in the middle of its own inquiry.
Farah said he welcomed the dual investigation from both anti-doping bodies but he added: “These are just allegations. If they are proven and Ukad and Usada find something wrong, then I am the first person to run, but you have to give people a chance in life. Someone who has helped so much in your career, you have to give them the benefit of the doubt.”
There is no suggestion that Farah himself has done anything wrong but he once again reiterated that he had never doped.
Questions were raised over two doping tests he missed in 2010 and 2011 but Farah pointed to the fact that he has taken 148 tests since 2007 and 103 since 2012.
“I work hard every day and put my body through hell,” he said. “Every year for seven months I'm away from my family. I miss kids' birthdays and anniversaries and that really kills me, so to be labelled something you're not is not right. If I'm a cheat then prove it, if not then leave me alone. I'm not anything, trust me.
“I work so hard to do what I do. It's taken me half of my life to achieve what I have achieved and for people to think I'm taking a short cut is not right. I'm 100 per cent clean. I love what I do and I want to continue to win medals, but I want people to know I've never taken any drugs.”
One of the charges levelled against Salazar was that he used exercise-induced asthma in his athletes as a way of enabling them to reap the benefits of asthma inhalers. – The Independent