Farah Can Work with Salazar - UK Athletics

UK Athletics has said it has no concerns over Mo Farah’s continuing relationship with Alberto Salazar despite doping allegations made against the Cuban-born coach.

In June, UKA announced the details of its formal review into the relationship between Salazar and Farah after allegations made in a Panorama documentary. The programme, screened at the start of June, alleged that Farah’s training partner Galen Rupp had been taking the banned anabolic steroid testosterone since he was 16 under the supervision of Salazar.

The results of the investigation carried out by the Performance Oversight Group (POG) were published on Friday.

“In July we said that there was no evidence of any impropriety on the part of Mo Farah and no reason to lack confidence in his training programme. The Oversight Group have restated that view today. They have also found no reason to be concerned about the engagement of other British athletes and coaches with the Oregon Project,” read the statement.

“The review established that the vast majority of the endurance program’s interaction with the Oregon Project is in fact focussed on Mo Farah, with very little other UK Athletics related activity. Coaching and support for Mo Farah will remain the focus of our engagement with the Oregon Project.

“The Oversight Group has made a number of organisational and procedural recommendations which UK Athletics’ Performance Director Neil Black will take forward and implement over the coming months.

“Obviously since our review was set up USADA announced that it was conducting an investigation into allegations made in respect of staff within the Oregon Project. USADA is clearly the right body to look at anti-doping issues. They have asked us not to give any further details of our review until their work has concluded. We respect their request and are of course giving them our fullest support and co-operation.”

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Sotherton Loses UK Athletics Funding

Olympic medallist Kelly Sotherton's chances of competing at London 2012 have suffered a major blow after she lost her funding from UK Athletics.

The 34-year-old, who came third in the 2004 Olympic heptathlon, was targeting a 400m place but has lost her second-tier "podium relay" funding.

A defiant Sotherton tweeted: "Nothing changes! Goals are still the same! I'm the master of my own destiny!"

Mark Lewis-Francis drops from top-level "podium" funding to podium relay.

Progress was made in 2011 but there is still work to be done before next August to make our athletes perform betterCharles van CommeneeUK Athletics head coach

There are three levels of funding in UKA's World Class Performance Programme.

Podium level funding is given to those athletes in contention to win medals and secure top-eight finishes at next summer's Olympics. Former Cuban Yamile Aldama and American-born Tiffany Porter both join the UK Athletics (UKA) podium level funding programme.

Podium relay funding is given to athletes expected to play a part in the relay events at the Olympics, while UKA also offers development funding to promising young athletes.

Sotherton was part of the British 4x400m relay team which took silver at the 2011 European Indoor Championships, but she could only finish sixth in the 400m at the UK Championships in August.

She insisted the news "does not come as a major surprise to me and it is not a setback to my ambitions".

"I am very grateful for the support that UK Athletics has offered me up until now," she said. "Everything will continue as I had planned in the lead up to London 2012 and this decision by UK Athletics will not alter anything in my preparations.

"I still hope to compete at the Olympics next year and, once I am there, I have every confidence of producing a performance that will do myself and the nation proud."

She was coached to bronze in Athens by Charles van Commenee, who is now UKA's head coach (Olympic).

He told BBC Sport: "The main criterion for athletes to be on the world-class performance plan is that they have a strong chance to reach the top eight in the Olympic Games.

"Given the development of Kelly's performances over the last couple of years, it doesn't indicate that that's going to happen.

"For me, personal feelings I really have to put on the side because otherwise I can't make clear decisions. Personal relationships and feelings are not relevant in this process."

Among those receiving podium level funding are world champions Mo Farah and Dai Greene, along with silver medallists Phillips Idowu, Jessica Ennis and Hannah England, and bronze medallist Andy Turner.

Among those elevated to top level funding are European Under-23 champions Holly Bleasdale (pole vault) and Jack Green (400m hurdles).

Scott Overall's shock fifth place at the recent Berlin marathon sees him elevated to development funding.

SOTHERTON'S CAREER 

2004 European Cup - second in long jump

2004 Olympics Games - bronze in heptathlon

2005 European Indoor Championships - silver in pentathlon

2007 European Indoor Championships - silver in pentathlon

2007 World Champonships -bronze in heptathlon

2008 World Indoor Championships - silver in pentathlon

2008 Olympics - fourth in heptathlon

2011 European Indoor Championships - silver in 4x400m relay