UK review puts Mo Farah in clear

UK Athletics has found no evidence of wrongdoing by Mo Farah in the initial findings of its investigation into allegations of doping against his coach Alberto Salazar.

The governing body also said its investigation had not given it “any reason to question the appropriateness of the input” given by the Nike Oregon Project to the double Olympic champion’s training regime.

UKA launched a review following allegations broadcast in a BBC Panorama programme in June that Salazar, the head coach at the Nike Oregon Projectin Portland, where Farah trains, had violated several anti-doping rules.

Salazar, who is an ‘unpaid consultant’ for UKA, has strenuously denied all the accusations against him and Farah, who was not accused of any wrongdoing in the BBC documentary, has vowed to stick by his coach unless any allegations are proven.

UKA launched a review into the American’s relationship with the governing body and Farah, which was undertaken by its three-person Performance Oversight Group, comprising former athletes Jason Gardener, Dr Sarah Rowell and Anne Wafula-Strike.

A statement from UKA said: “With reference to the first and most vital objective of the review, the Board can confirm none of the extensive information supplied to the POG [Performance Oversight Group] contained any evidence of impropriety on the part of Mo Farah, nor gave UK Athletics any reason to question the appropriateness of the input given by the Oregon Project to Mo Farah’s training regime.”

Farah was questioned by the US Anti-Doping Agency in a routine meeting at a central London hotel on Saturday, a day after he received a warm reception on a winning return to the Olympic Stadium for the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games.

UKA said the formal investigations by USADA and UK Anti-Doping into the allegations against Salazar meant the findings from its own review “will now need to be shared with UKAD, at their request, prior to any wider circulation’’.

It said that its board therefore does not expect to make a public announcement on its full findings until after the World Championships inBeijing, which finish on August 30.UKA added it “continues to take the issue of doping violations in sport extremely seriously and will assist UKAD and other relevant authorities in their important work whenever required”.Farah is currently training at his base in Font Romeu in the Pyrenees as he gears up for the defence of his 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles in Beijing.The initial findings will come as a welcome boost for the 32-year-old, whose performances on the track, amid a tumultuous summer off it, have been impressive.In Beijing he will be aiming to become the first man to complete the long-distance double at two World Championships.

Elsewhere Sommer Lecky added to the Irish medal haul at the European Youth Olympics in Tbilisi with a bronze medal in the high jump with a new personal best of 1.80m.

The Finn Valley youngster was in excellent form in 30 degrees heat andcleared the same height as eventual winner Ekaterina Prikhodkova of Russia. Lecky lost out on countback with Sweden’s Maja Helena Nilsson also clearing 1.80m for silver.

Niamh Malone (Monaghan Phoenix) finished 6th in the 400m hurdles finalin 63.44 seconds while Lauren O’Keeffe(Donore Harriers) was 7th in the hammer with a best of 53.75 and Arlene Crossan (Finn Valley) was 9th inthe long jump with a best of 5.51m.

Meanwhile an action-packed Sunday sees Ireland’s best clubs battle it out for top honours at the GloHealth National League Final in Tullamore while the top distance runners in the country take to the roads in the national half marathon championships in the Phoenix Park.

Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock) and Sarah Mullighan (DSD) face stiff competition in a bid to retain their national titles in a race held inconjunction with the Rock ’N’ Roll Half Marathon.

Clohisey won last year in 65:55 and will be up against club mate Freddy Kerron Sittuk (second last year) along with Paul Pollock (Annadale Striders), Mark Hanrahan (Leevale), Mark Christie(Mullingar Harriers) and Olympic marathoner Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers).

Cork’s Lizzie Lee (Leevale) is the outstanding favourite in the women’s race with a personal best of 74:06 and is in excellent form. She set a new course record of 33:16 for the at the Dunshaughlin 10k last month.