Alberto Salazar, Nike Oregon Project facing accusations of doping

A Nike-sponsored training group that grooms some of the most successful distance runners in the world is under suspicion of serious doping infractions, according to an investigation from the BBC and U.S. investigative publication ProPublica. The accusations centre around Alberto Salazar, coach of the Nike Oregon Project (NOP), and American runner Galen Rupp. It’s alleged that Salazar instructed Rupp to take banned substances including prednisone and testosterone. Both Salazar, who won three successive New York marathons, and Rupp deny any wrongdoing, while there is no suggestion that Farah has broken doping rules.

I would be not only disturbed, I would be very disappointed and that’s why I think it needs to be scrutinised by us as an independent body.

David Howman, chief executive of the World Anti-doping Agency

The NOP was responsible for an astonishing 1-2 finish in the 10,000 metres at the 2012 Olympic Games, with Britain’s Mo Farah winning gold and Rupp taking silver, upsetting the best African runners. The whistleblowers include former athletes and coaches. Among them, high profile U.S. marathoner Kara Goucher, and Steve Magness, head coach of the University of Houston cross-country team.

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