Olympic running champion Mo Farah denies PED use
Olympic long-distance running champion Mo Farah denied ever taking performance-enhancing drugs, saying he has taken hundreds of drug tests, with each test coming up negative.
On Friday, Farah responded on his Facebook page to a Daily Mailreport that stated that he missed two drug tests leading up to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The UK Anti-Doping Agency refused to comment on the report, citing confidentiality.
Farah won gold medals in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the London games and says he has explained to authorities why he missed those drug tests, calling them "simple mistakes."
“I have never taken performance enhancing drugs in my life and I never will,” Farah said. “Over the course of my career I have taken hundreds of drugs tests and every single one has been negative. I’ve fully explained the only two tests in my career that I have ever missed, which the authorities understood, and there was never any suggestion that these were anything more than simple mistakes.”
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He says the speculation over alleged cheating has led to the toughest two weeks of his life and left him “angry, frustrated and upset.”
“In particular, the media pressure on my young family and my wife, who is 5 months pregnant, is extremely painful, especially as I’m away training for some important races,” he said.
Farah's American coach, Alberto Salazar, is currently under suspicion after assistant Steve Magness accused him of encouraging fellow runner and 2012 London silver medalist Galen Rupp to break anti-doping rules. Rupp and Salazar have denied any wrongdoing.
Farah said he went to Portland to speak personally to Salazar, demanding answers.
“He reassured me that the claims are false and that he will soon be providing evidence to make that clear. Until then I will not be commenting further on the allegations,” Farah said.
Farah is currently training in the mountains of Paris and scheduled to compete at the Diamond League meet in Monaco next month.
- Scooby Axson
