AP source: USADA looking into allegations against Salazar

EUGENE, Ore. – The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has launched an investigation into allegations that famed track coach Alberto Salazar encouraged Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp and others in his stable of elite runners to skirt anti-doping rules, the Associated Press has learned.

A person with knowledge of the investigation told the AP on Wednesday that more than a dozen witnesses have been interviewed and USADA is actively pursuing documents and other evidence from Salazar, who coached Rupp to second place in the 10,000 meters at the London Olympics.

A story by ProPublica and BBC earlier this month contained allegations from former Salazar assistant Steve Magness and a former Salazar runner, Kara Goucher, that Salazar skirted the rules. Salazar responded Wednesday by publishing a 12,000-word letter online disputing the allegations, saying the Oregon Project he leads “will never permit doping.”

USADA spokeswoman Annie Skinner said, “USADA takes all reports of doping seriously and we aggressively follow up on all information we receive in order to fulfill our oath to protect clean athletes and the integrity of competition.”

Salazar’s key sponsor, Nike, released a statement, saying the company had conducted its own internal investigation and found no evidence to support the doping allegations.

The 56-year-old track coach, who won the 1982 Boston Marathon and the New York Marathon three straight times from 1980-82, went public to clear his name on the eve of the U.S. championships in Oregon, where Rupp is scheduled to go for his seventh straight national title at 10,000 meters.