Mo Farah pulls out of Diamond League meeting 'emotionally and physically drained' after coach's doping allegations

The British world and Olympic 5,000 and 10,000-metre champion said: 'my reputation is getting ruined'

Mo Farah has pulled out of a Diamond League meeting in Birmingham today, saying he feels "emotionally and physically drained" from a week in which his coach has been mired in doping allegations.

In investigations by ProPublica and the BBC, long-distance running coach Alberto Salazar was accused by his former assistant of using doping practices for his athletes at the Nike Oregon Project.

While no doping accusations have been made against Farah, the British world and Olympic 5,000 and 10,000-metre champion said of the claims against his coach: "my reputation is getting ruined"

"This week has been very stressful and taken a lot out of me," Farah said in a statement released by organizers. "I have not been able to focus properly on today's race."

"I want to run well in the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing and have decided it is better for me to go back to the U.S., seek answers to my questions and get back into training.”

"I apologise to the people who bought tickets to come and watch me race and ask for your understanding at this time."

Farah, who was due to run the 1,500 metres in Birmingham at 3.14pm, has said he won't be departing from Salazar as he hasn't seen any clear evidence of wrongdoing.

Salazar, who built his reputation as a coach after winning the New York Marathon three years in a row from 1980-82 and the Boston Marathon in 1982, was accused by his former assistant, Steve Magness.

Magness alleges that Salazar violated anti-doping rules by encouraging one of his top runners, Galen Rupp to turn to doping.

Rupp won the silver medal in the 10,000 metres at the London Olympics in 2012, finishing behind Farah. Rupp also denies any wrongdoing.

In a statement Salazar said that legal supplements had been "incorrectly recorded as 'testosterone' medication" on Rupp’s report.

He told the BBC: "The allegations your sources are making are based upon false assumptions and half-truths in an attempt to further their personal agendas. No athlete within the Oregon Project uses a medication against the spirit of the sport we love."

It is reported that at least six other former Salazar athletes and staff members have gone to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency with their concerns and that USADA has not confirmed or denied any investigations.