American anti-doping investigators have
asked their British counterparts to release Sir Mo Farah's drug test
samples so they can be re-tested for blood-boosting substances.
The
US Anti-Doping Agency, who have worked in tandem with UK Anti-Doping
since allegations of wrongdoing by Farah's coach Alberto Salazar emerged
in
2015, say they have enough evidence to warrant a new analysis of all
athletes at the Salazar-run Nike Oregon Project.
But
sources say UK doping chiefs are awaiting more details from their US
colleagues before agreeing to subject Farah to further scrutiny.
They have to balance the request against
the requirements of their own investigation into the claims surrounding
Salazar, with whom Farah has worked since 2011.
One
substance for which the Americans want to test is EPO, or
erythropoietin, which can increase endurance by boosting red blood cell
production.
Farah, 33, said last
weekend he is a 'clean athlete who has never broken the rules in regards
to substances, methods or dosages'. But on Friday the controversy
surrounding the four-time Olympic champion and his American coach showed
no sign of abating.
Fresh details emerged from the American
report that was written last year, which said Salazar had 'almost
certainly' broken anti-doping rules on drug infusions and may have
endangered the health of Farah and other athletes with unnecessary
medication.
The BBC revealed that the
American report also says Salazar may have committed an anti-doping rule
violation by possessing testosterone.
Questions
were also raised around an L-carnitine infusion — a supplement to boost
testosterone levels — that Farah received before the 2014 London
Marathon. Sources have suggested American anti-doping investigators have
encountered issues with the medical records held by UK Athletics.
UKAD do not shy away from pursuing some of
the biggest names in British sport, as demonstrated by their ongoing
investigation into Team Sky and Sir Bradley Wiggins, their failed
attempt to ban Lizzie Armitstead ahead of last summer's Olympic Games
when she registered a third whereabouts failure, and their investigation
of boxer Tyson Fury.
Their concern in
Farah's case, however, appears to be the re-analysis of a sample without
a compelling reason when it could jeopardise their ability to re-test
the samples of the four-time Olympic champion — or indeed, any athlete —
in the future.
Samples can be held for
10 years and scientists could yet develop a new test that makes it
possible to detect a banned substance. Testers also run the risk of
degradation when they look at samples again.
UKAD
chief executive Nicole Sapstead conceded that national anti-doping
agencies do not always agree on the reanalysis of samples.
In
a statement she said: 'As is a matter of public knowledge, the US
Anti-Doping Agency and UK Anti-Doping have been investigating the
allegations made in the BBC Panorama programme relating to Alberto
Salazar and the Nike Oregon Project.Due to the fact the investigation has focused on a training base in the United States but has featured British athletes, USADA and UKAD have worked jointly on this investigation. UKAD enjoys an excellent working relationship with our partners, including USADA.
'Decisions
as to testing and analysis require careful consideration, and national
anti-doping organisations can quite legitimately disagree in this
regard. Status is no barrier to thorough testing or potential
investigations. UKAD treats all athletes in the same way.'
In
a week when Sapstead revealed alarming problems with medical
record-keeping at British Cycling and Team Sky to a parliamentary select
committee, the UKAD chief also reiterated that it was 'vitally
important that all sports governing bodies ensure accurate and timely
medical records are kept for their athletes'.
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