Great Britain’s Mo Farah has denied “ever taking performance enhancing drugs (PEDs)” after reports emerged that he missed two drug tests, casting doubts over his future.
A number of local newspaper ran stories today that Farah had missed two out-of-competition tests, first in early 2010 and then in February 2011.
The double Olympic champion, 32, has said he missed the door bell rang by testers on the latter occasion at his home. A third missed test within a then-18-month period (now reduced to 12 month) would certainly have meant he would not have been able to compete for his 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medals at the London 2012 summer Games.
In a statement published on his FaceBook page, Farah said: “I have never taken performance enhancing drugs in my life and I never will. Over the course of my career I have taken hundreds of drugs tests and every single one has been negative.
“I’ve fully explained the only two tests in my career that I have ever missed, which the authorities understood, and there was never any suggestion that these were anything more than simple mistakes.
The distance runner continued, saying: “the last two weeks have been the toughest of my life” following a BBC investigation which alleges that his coach Alberto Salazar had practiced doping techniques with American athlete Galen Rupp.
Farah said Salazar has assured him that those claims are untrue “and that he will soon be providing evidence to make that clear. Until then I will not be commenting further on the allegations.”
He concluded: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fans, family, friends and teammates for all the great support they have provided over the last few days and hope that I will now be allowed to focus on my training and winning medals for my country.”
