A key whistle-blower in the case which saw coach Alberto Salazar banned for four years for doping violations says the Nike Oregon Project (NOP) he ran should be shut down.
The decision over Salazar followed a four-year investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) and a two-year court battle behind closed doors.
“It [NOP] has to go,” American Kara Goucher, who trained under Salazar between 2004 and 2011, told BBC Sport.
Salazar said he will appeal the ruling.
Two-time Olympian Goucher turned whistle-blower in 2013, making claims of wrongdoing by her former coach to Usada.
Two years later she went public, telling a BBC Panorama documentary that American Salazar had encouraged her to take thyroid medication to help her lose weight after giving birth.
Despite his denials, Goucher’s claims were key to a Usada investigation and she testified at two arbitration hearings.
She now wants the NOP, which was home to British four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah from 2011 until 2017, shut down.
“I feel really bad for the athletes because I’m sure many of them are innocent, but it’s not my decision,” said Goucher.
“If I was Nike I’d be bringing in some new coaches and move on from this Oregon Project, because clearly it had principles not in line with clean sport and we have to just start over.
“These athletes should do the right thing – staying in that uniform sends such a terrible message. They really need to shut it down and give athletes a chance to train under someone new and fresh.”
When contacted by BBC Sport, Nike said the decision over Salazar “had nothing to do with administering banned substances to any Oregon Project athlete”.
It added: “As the panel noted, they were struck by the amount of care Alberto took to ensure he was complying with the World Anti-Doping Code.
“We support Alberto in his decision to appeal and wish him the full measure of due process that the rules require. Nike does not condone the use of banned substances in any manner.”
In a letter sent to all employees on 1 October, seen by the BBC, Nike boss Mark Parker said that while the panel did not find that Salazar or anyone in the Oregon Project administered any banned
substances, it “upheld three charges against Alberto, all of which were committed without an intent or effect to dope or cheat.”
He added: “The arbitration panel may have disagreed on three points but agreed that any violations they have found were not out of an effort to dope or cheat.”
Goucher, speaking from her home in Colorado and at times struggling to contain her emotions, also said:
- She wishes Salazar had been handed a life ban
- All athletes who have ever trained under Salazar should have all their blood samples re-tested
- Farah showed “poor judgement” in staying with Salazar for two years after the allegations became public, and his legacy is now “tainted”
- New 10,000m and 1500m world champion Sifan Hassan has made “poor choices” by training with Salazar
- Nike has “too much of a grip” on athletics
‘Re-test NOP athletes’
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said this week the World Anti-Doping Agency should investigate all athletes who trained with Salazar.
Goucher, who won a silver medal at the 2007 World Championships under the coach, agrees.
“It’s unfortunate but, myself included, I do feel that all of our blood samples over the years should be retested now,” she said.
“Just because you run for that programme, it does not mean you’re doing anything wrong.
“However, we have a conviction here now and many of the NOP athletes that I’ve seen so far have said they don’t trust it, will fight it and are going to stay in that programme – that is very concerning for me.
“I just can’t imagine staying when the head of your programme has been convicted, so that part I just don’t understand.
“But anyone ever associated with that programme, unfortunately now people will think twice about what you’re performing, and that is unfair.
“I know athletes there that are not doing anything wrong, but that’s just the unfortunate situation about a conviction like this.
“Alberto is the reason they are in this position – he should be held accountable by his employers [Nike].
“Instead of them saying ‘we’re going to cut ties’, they’ve doubled down to support him.”
Goucher added: “All of us, even myself and my husband [Adam – another ex-NOP athlete] – everyone should go through it.
“Every blood test should be retested, this is what needs to happen and then we can determine if there should be charges on athletes or not.”
Another NOP athlete, American middle distance runner Craig Engels, who is not trained by Salazar, this week said that he would like to find out more about what went on.
