Distance runner Kara Goucher has struck back at her ex-coach Alberto Salazar, saying she did not like being made to look like a liar in his response to doping allegations against him in an open letter.
“I understand if you read it through, it looks like I am a liar. I don’t like being labelled a liar,” Goucher, among those making allegations that Salazar has violated anti-doping rules, told reporters at the US world championships trials.
Goucher, 36, said she looked forward to testifying under oath about Salazar. “I would welcome that opportunity for myself, for every former Oregon Project member, for every doctor that has been involved, to go under oath,” Goucher said.
Salazar last week issued a lengthy response to allegations made by BBC television programme Panorama in association with American website ProPublica.
The coach of British double Olympic champion Mo Farah and American London Games silver medallist Galen Rupp denied any wrongdoing. Salazar is under investigation by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) over whether he violated anti-doping rules.
Goucher confirmed she had talked to Usada beginning in 2013 concerning Salazar. “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.
