Mo Farah: Doping allegations are 'killing me, killing my family'

“To be labelled something you are not and labelled a cheat is not fair: prove I am a cheat or leave me alone."

Mo Farah: Doping allegations are 'killing me, killing my family'

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah has insisted he is “100 per cent clean” but admitted he would sever all ties with Alberto Salazar if doping allegations against the coach were proven.

Farah, who won both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the London Olympics, insists it is not fair he is being accused by association but believes Salazar is entitled to be treated as innocent until found otherwise.

Mo Farah pictured with coach Alberto Salazar.

“I am not on anything, trust me,” he told Sky Sports News.

“To be labelled something you are not and labelled a cheat is not fair: prove I am a cheat or leave me alone.

“Let’s get to the bottom of this. It is killing me, killing my family.”

Farah has not been accused of wrongdoing himself but has been under the spotlight since BBC Panorama and US investigative website ProPublica made allegations that Salazar violated several anti-doping rules, including using testosterone medication on Farah’s training partner Galen Rupp when he was 16 in 2002.

Salazar last week issued a lengthy rebuttal of almost 12,000 words denying the allegations and Farah, who has met with Salazar to discuss the situation, wants to believe his coach while backing the investigations under way.

“UK Anti-Doping and USADA need to get on top of this and deal with it properly as it is overshadowing athletics,” Farah said.

“They are just allegations. If there is wrongdoing I will be the first person to run (away) but you have to give people a chance in life and the benefit of the doubt.”

When the allegations came to light, Farah pulled out of Birmingham’s Diamond League meeting at the last minute to quiz Salazar in Portland.

“I was shocked. I couldn’t believe what I saw. I am the first person to say ’Look, what’s going on?’, I wanted answers,” he added.

“I work so hard for what I do. It has taken me half of my life to achieve what I achieved and for people to think I am taking a shortcut is not fair. I am 100 per cent clean.

“I want to continue winning medals but I want people to know I am 100 per cent clean and am not on any drugs.

“This picture of me as a cheat is not right, it’s not fair. Why me?

“I said ’You need to assure me’. He said ’Mo, I am working on this, I will come out and disprove these allegations. These are just allegations and I can prove this to you’.

“I believed in him. He (now) needs to prove it to the public.”

Farah reiterated, however, that should Salazar be found guilty he would not hesitate to cut all ties.

“Alberto has coached me and helped me; there is no question I have won medals with Alberto,” he said.

“But if he has crossed the line and is proven to have done so then I am out, trust me.”

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Grigor Dimitrov Grigor Dimitrov dumps Carlos Alcaraz out of Miami Open
betMGM Premier League Darts 2024 - Night Nine - SSE Arena Luke Littler ends Luke Humphries’ winning run in Premier League
Sport Ireland sets out advice for transgender athletes in sport Sport Ireland sets out advice for transgender athletes in sport
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited