Mo Farah splits with long-time coach Salazar

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British long-distance running star Mo Farah has split with long-time American coach Alberto Salazar whose training base has been the subject of doping allegations.

In an interview with The Sun newspaper, Farah, the Olympic champion over 10,000m and 5,000m, said he was ending his association with Salazar because of a move back to Britain and not as a result of the allegations.

The 34-year-old Somalia-born star began training with the American in 2011 at his Oregon Project camp in Portland, and won his first world title the same year in the 5,000m at the Daegu World Championships.

Alberto Salazar (right) has denied doping allegations. /AFP Photo

Salazar's training base has, however, been the subject of intense scrutiny from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

A leaked USADA report this year asserted that Salazar had likely violated drug protocols, later denied by the coach.

Farah, who has repeatedly denied involvement in doping, told The Sun the allegations involving Salazar were not behind his decision.

"I'm not leaving the Nike Oregon Project and Alberto Salazar because of the doping allegations," he told the paper. "This situation has been going on for over two years, if I was going to leave because of that I would have done.

Mo Farah took home his 10th consecutive gold medal from a global event at the World Athletics Championships in August. /Reuters Photo

"As I've always said, I am firm believer in clean sport and I strongly believe that anyone who breaks the rules should be punished. If Alberto had crossed the line I would be out the door but USADA (US Anti Doping) has not charged him with anything. If I had ever had any reason to doubt Alberto, I would not have stood by him all this time."

Farah, who has retired from track running to concentrate on the marathon, said family reasons had driven the move.

"I'm leaving simply because my family and I are moving back to London," he said.

“We want the kids to grow up in the UK. It's the right thing to do for my family. But both Nike Oregon Project and Alberto are based in the USA, so it just would not be possible to continue our relationship from London."

Source(s): AFP