Sunday 28 June 2015 11:46, UK
Alberto Salazar never feared British star Mo Farah would leave him despite the storm caused by recent doping allegations regarding the American coach.
A number of accusations were made against Salazar in a BBC Panorama programme made in collaboration with US journalism organisation ProPublica, notably that he was involved in doping top US distance runner Galen Rupp, a training partner of Farah’s, in 2002.
On Tuesday Salazar wrote a lengthy, 12,000-word open letter in which he denied all the accusations made against him.
Salazar is reportedly under investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency with investigators questioning athletes at the Nike Oregon Project, leaving open the possibility that double Olympic champion Farah could be quizzed as well.
Despite this possibility, Farah confirmed on Friday that he is sticking his coach and Salazar revealed he never had any doubts the double Olympic gold medallist would elect to stay with him.
"There was never any doubt in my mind he was going to stay," Salazar told the Telegraph.
Farah said in his statement on Friday: “Following all the speculation I want to make it clear where I stand.
“Although it's been a difficult time, I asked Alberto to respond to the allegations made against him and he has now done so in full.
“As someone I've worked with for many years, I feel I have to believe in Alberto and the evidence he has provided.
“Based on that evidence, I will continue to work with him and hope now that I can focus on what I do best – training hard to win medals for my country.”
Farah is expected to return to the track for the first time since the allegations broke when he competes in the 5,000m at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne on July 9, and he is also due to run in Monaco on July 17.