SIR Mo Farah insisted last night that he is a "clean athlete" and spoke of his "deep frustration" about continually having to defend himself after a leaked report suggested that his coach Alberto Salazar that he may have broken anti-doping rules to boost the performance of some of his athletes.
Salazar, who is also a consultant to UK Athletics (UKA), is no stranger to controversy, having been under investigation ever since a BBC Panorama programme made allegations about use of drugs at his US training base in 2015. While Salazar and Farah deny they have ever broken anti-doping rules, the Sunday Times yesterday claimed that the leaked report alleges Salazar routinely gave Farah and other athletes at the Nike Oregon Project legal prescription drugs with potentially harmful side-effects without a justifiable medical reason.
"It's deeply frustrating that I'm having to make an announcement on this subject," said 33-year-old Farah, who has won 5,000m and 10,000m gold at the past two Olympics, in a statement. "If Usada or any other anti-doping body has evidence of wrongdoing they should publish it and take action rather than allow the media to be judge and jury.
"I am a clean athlete who has never broken the rules in regards to substances, methods or dosages and it is upsetting that some parts of the media, despite the clear facts, continue to try to associate me with allegations of drug misuse.
"I'm unclear as to the Sunday Times's motivations towards me but I do understand that using my name and profile makes the story more interesting but it's entirely unfair to make assertions when it is clear from their own statements that I have done nothing wrong," added Farah, who will retire from the track after this summer's World Athletics Championships in London.
"As I've said many times before we all should do everything we can to have a clean sport and it is entirely right that anyone who breaks the rules should be punished."
UK Athletics said it stood by the findings of an investigation published in 2016 that found "there was no evidence of any impropriety on the part of Mo Farah and no reason to lack confidence in his training programme".
"Usada have not reported back to UKA on any aspect of their investigations but we remain, at all times, completely open and cooperative with them," said a statement. "L-carnitine is a legal and scientifically legitimate supplement that can be used by endurance athletes. To our knowledge, all doses administered and methods of administration have been fully in accordance with Wada-approved protocol and guidelines."
The Usada interim report was passed to the Sunday Times by the suspected Russian hacking group Fancy Bears.
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