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Nike to shut down Oregon Proje...

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Nike to shut down Oregon Project


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Nike have shut their Oregon Project - just two weeks after head-coach Alberto Salazar was banned for four years for anti-doping violations.

Salazar's suspension follows a four-year investigation by USADA and a two-year battle in the courts.

The Oregon Project was founded in 2011 and had been home to Britain's four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah for six-years.

"Nike has always tried to put the athlete and their needs at the front of all of our decisions," the company said in a statement today.

"While the panel found there was no orchestrated doping, no finding that performance enhancing drugs have ever been used on Oregon Project athletes and went out of its way to note Alberto's desire to follow all rules, ultimately Alberto can no longer coach while the appeal is pending.

"This situation including uninformed innuendo and unsubstantiated assertions has become an unfair burden for current OP athletes. That is exactly counter to the purpose of the team.

"We have therefore made the decision to wind down the Oregon Project to allow the athletes to focus on their training and competition needs.

"We will help all of our athletes in this transition as they choose the coaching set up that is right for them. We will continue to support Alberto in his appeal."

 


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