Mo Farah said he is feeling more upbeat after a difficult week in which doping allegations were made against his coach, Alberto Salazar. Photograph: Barry Coombs/PA
LONDON, June 12 – Mo Farah has apologised to fans for pulling out of the Birmingham Diamond League meeting after doping accusations were made about his coach, Alberto Salazar, in a BBC Panorama documentary.
The British double Olympic champion said on his Facebook page: “I mentioned at the weekend that the past week has been tough for me, but having spent a few days with my family and having time to reflect, I am feeling much more upbeat.
“However, I do realise that at the weekend I disappointed a lot of people by pulling out of the race and I wanted to apologise again to you all and say a massive thanks for your on-going support. Hope to see you soon!!”
The documentary alleged that Salazar was involved in doping his athlete Galen Rupp, the silver medallist at the 2012 London Olympics behind Farah in the 10,000 metres, when the American was only 16 years of age.
Both Salazar and Rupp have denied those claims.
Farah has not been accused of doing anything illegal but he pulled out of last Sunday’s Diamond League meeting in Birmingham stating he was ”physically and emotionally drained“.
Salazar, who coaches Farah in the United States, is the head coach at the prestigious Nike Oregon Project in Portland, and an ”unpaid consultant” for UK Athletics.
Farah said this week that he intends to stand by his coach until he was proven to have done wrong.
Farah faces questions over exactly when he knew the seriousness of the doping allegations being levelled against Salazar and his training partner Rupp, after the Guardian was able to confirm he was contacted by the BBC nearly a month before the Panorama programme was aired.
-By The Guardian-
