Controversial athletics coach: British association wants cooperation with Salazar examined

The British Athletics Association UKA wants to take the cooperation with the suspended US star coach Alberto Salazar under the microscope. An independent commission should present its report to it next spring, communicated the federation. The association must ensure that his training methods are of integrity, said UKA chief Chris Clark.

Salazar was suspended by US Arbitration Court in September for four years for violating anti-doping laws. He is said to have worked in the training center Nike Oregon Project in the US with doping agents, which should have financed the sports outfitter.

In addition, mistreatment allegations of athletes, in particular by the runner Mary Cain. "I joined Nike to become the best female athlete of all time, instead, I was mentally and physically abused by the system designed by Alberto (Salazar) and endorsed by Nike," she wrote in The New York Times.

Steve Magness, Salazar's former assistant coach, confirmed the allegations. A spokesman for the Nike group said it was "deeply worrying allegations." Salazar, however, rejected the allegations for the most part. Independent investigations of the allegations were last demanded by some athletes.

Salazar coached four-time British Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah from 2011 to 2017 and also advised the association. Nike has now closed the training center, in which the German top talent Konstanze Klosterhalfen, world championship third over 5000 meters, trained.