UK Athletics to review Farah decision

UK Athletics has announced an independent review of its botched decision to allow Mo Farah to continue working with Alberto Salazar, who has subsequently been banished from the sport for suspected doping offences.

An investigation conducted by the governing body found “no reason to be concerned” about Farah’s then coach and cleared the runner to remain at the Nike Oregon Project after allegations first surfaced questioning Salazar’s practices in June 2015. That decision was made to look increasingly unwise when Salazar was handed a four-year ban for various doping offences last month. He denies any wrongdoing and has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

UK Athletics performance director Neil Black left his role a week after the ban was issued, following major criticism of the handling of the scandal. Black had previously described Salazar as “a genius … one of the best people to work with that I have ever come across”.

With Nike subsequently shutting down the training group, UK Athletics has announced the review of its investigation, which cleared Farah to remain working under Salazar.

The findings are expected to be published next spring. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Farah or any other Nike Oregon Project athlete.

The sprinter and Telegraph columnist Dina Asher-smith, meanwhile, was honoured at the SJA British Sports Awards last night, along with cricketer Ben Stokes and the England’s World Cup-winning cricket team. They won sportswoman, sportsman and sports team of the year. Members of the Sports Journalists’ Association voted for the awards.