UKAD criticises independent review into Mo Farah’s former coach Alberto Salazar

Disgraced coach ran the Nike Oregon Project – home to British Olympic champion Farah between 2011 and 2017

Alberto Salazar, former head coach of the Nike Oregon Project (Getty)

UK Anti-Doping ​(UKAD) has criticised an independent review into the way UK Athletics (UKA) handled issues surrounding its relationship with disgraced running coach Alberto Salazar.

UK Athletics published a 130-page review on Friday, which said the governing body had taken reasonable decisions but could have handled the situation better.

In a statement on Saturday, UKAD Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead said: “Following the release of UK Athletics’ Independent Report yesterday, we note that UK Athletics has taken the decision to publish the executive summary of the original internal review that was conducted in 2015 by UKA’s Performance Oversight Committee (POC).

“We have repeatedly requested that UK Athletics share this POC review with us in its entirety, as there could be information included that is of interest to us.”

The statement said only an edited summary of the independent review had been shown to UKAD.

“We remind UKA that they are bound by the National Anti-Doping Policy. We now call again on UKA to hand over this review in full, including the associated supporting reports and documents.”

The report into how UKA handled its relationship with Salazar, who ran the Nike Oregon Project which was home to British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah between 2011 and 2017, found the board had changed its stance.

Salazar was banned from athletics for four years in October after being found guilty of doping violations following an investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency.

He had worked as a consultant to UKA’s endurance programme in 2013 after helping Farah to win the 5,000 metres and 10,000m at the London 2012 Olympics.

Farah has not been accused of doping violations.

Reuters