Athletics coach Alberto Salazar has hit back at doping accusations by claiming that he and his athletes are being unjustly 'attacked'.
The 56-year-old American, who also trains double Olympic champion Mo Farah, was accused during a BBC Panorama documentary of doping offences.
Salazar's athlete Galen Rupp was also implicated in the allegations, but the trainer has strenuously denied the claims in a 11,600-word open letter via the Nike Oregon Project's official website.
Salazar wrote: "Recently, the BBC/ProPublica published stories not just attacking me but attacking my athletes and the Oregon Project. Former athletes, contractors and journalists make accusations in these stories, harming my athletes. At best they are misinformed. At worst, they are lying. I believe in a clean sport and hard work and so do my athletes.
"I will never permit doping. Oregon Project athletes must fully comply with the WADA Code and IAAF Rules. At no time do we use science in violation of the WADA Code. We strictly adhere to competition and anti-doping rules at all times.
"I have not and will not condone any athlete I train using a banned substance and would never encourage any athlete to use a banned substance. We have worked very, very hard to achieve our successes and are proud of our accomplishments."
Salazar has been accused by former members of his camp, with one former massage therapist claiming that the American was once spotted with a bag of needles at a training camp, and in a separate incident he is alleged to have carried a banned steroid gel.
In conclusion, the coach wrote: "Some have tried to console me by saying public attacks like these are the price of success in today's world. You win - people will try to tear you down. That's not my world. That's not the Oregon Project. Here, success is earned with talent, hard work, dedication and fair play, and, that's how it is going to stay. Let the haters hate - we're going to keep winning through hard work, dedication and fair play."
Salazar has also called for the BBC and ProPublica to immediately release retractions of their "false statements".
Danielle Joynson
