Athletics: Farah to stick with coach Salazar in spite of doping claims

LONDON (AFP) - Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah will continue to work with Alberto Salazar despite the doping allegations surrounding his coach, the athlete said on Friday.

"Although it's been a difficult time, I asked Alberto to respond to the allegations made against him and he has now done so in full," said Farah in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Friday.

"As someone I've worked with for many years, I feel I have to believe in Alberto and the evidence he has provided," Farah, the 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, added.

"Based on that evidence, I will continue to work with him and hope now that I can focus on what I do best - training hard to win medals for my country."

Wednesday saw Salazar, who trains several athletes at the Nike Oregon Project, issue a public statement in which he denied the allegations contained in a BBC television documentary.

"I will never permit doping," said the Cuban-born 56-year-old, a three-time New York Marathon champion.

The BBC alleged earlier this month that Salazar had violated anti-doping rules, with claims he had doped United States distance runner Galen Rupp, a training partner of Farah, in 2002 with the anabolic steroid testosterone when Rupp was only 16.

Farah has not been accused of any doping violations, although the Daily Mail reported he had missed two drug tests in the run-up to the 2012 London Games.

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