Share

Goucher lashes out at Salazar

Eugene - Kara Goucher, one of the athletes who has levelled explosive doping allegations against Alberto Salazar, lashed out at her former coach on Sunday for branding her a liar.

Goucher was angered by Salazar's lengthy open letter refuting the accusations levelled three weeks ago in a BBC/ProPublica documentary, in which Salazar portrayed her husband, Adam Goucher, as "belligerent" and said he dismissed them from his Nike Oregon Project training group.

"You know the expression: they took my quotes out of context," Goucher said at the US athletics trials. "And when you put partial emails or emails from a 10 email-long chain and just put one in you don't get both sides," she said of Salazar's formal response to the claims.

"I understand that if you read it through it looks like I'm a liar.

"I don't like being labelled a liar, just like anyone else. I want people to like me but my love for the sport is much stronger than my passion to have people like me."

Goucher confirmed she had first spoken to the US Anti-Doping Agency about her concerns in February of 2013 and had spoken to them again "very recently".

"I thank them for staying on it," she said of the anti-doping body, which has not officially confirmed an investigation.

"I thank them for staying on it, for taking my truth and not passing judgment on it, for fighting to clean up our sport," she said.

Goucher, who left the Oregon Project in 2011 after seven years, said she would "welcome" the opportunity to testify under oath on the matter.

"I would welcome that opportunity for myself, for every former Oregon Project member, for every doctor that's been involved. To go under oath - I would welcome that opportunity."

The accusations against the coach of Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah have rocked international athletics.

Farah, who has not been implicated in any wrong-doing, said Friday he would continue to train with Salazar.

Salazar himself said he would "never permit" doping in his training programme.

But the documentary alleges that the 56-year-old Cuban-born American violated anti-doping rules, administering testosterone to American distance runner Galen Rupp in 2002 when Rupp was only 16, and encouraging misuse of prescription drugs.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
loading... Live
Glasgow Warriors 21
Sharks 10
loading... Live
Titans RSA 135/8
Lions 154/8
loading... Live
Ulster 16
Cardiff Rugby 17
Voting Booth
How much would you be prepared to pay for a ticket to watch the Springboks play against the All Blacks at Ellis Park or Cape Town Stadium this year?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
R0 - R200
33% - 1818 votes
R200 - R500
32% - 1778 votes
R500 - R800
19% - 1084 votes
R800 - R1500
8% - 461 votes
R1500 - R2500
3% - 187 votes
I'd pay anything! It's the Boks v All Blacks!
5% - 254 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE