Essay about Nike: Asthma and Oregon Project

LBERTO SALAZAR’S OPEN LETTER

Recently, the BBC/ProPublica published stories not just attacking me but attacking my athletes and the Oregon Project. Former athletes, contractors and journalists make accusations in these stories, harming my athletes. At best they are misinformed. At worst, they are lying.

I believe in a clean sport and hard work and so do my athletes. What follows below are the actual facts.

THE OREGON PROJECT
•The Oregon Project will never permit doping and athletes must fully comply with the WADA Code and IAAF Rules.
•We proudly embrace science and technology to give our runners every legal means for success and, more importantly, to protect their health and wellbeing.

The goal of the Oregon Project is to give our athletes the support they need and deserve as world-class athletes; the support and training infrastructure that runners of my era did not have. We provide them access to the best facilities, coaches, trainers, physical therapists, massage therapists, and medical professionals. We proudly embrace science and technology to give our runners every legal means for success and, more importantly, to protect their health and prepare in the most meticulous manner possible for competition.

I will never permit doping. Oregon Project athletes must fully comply with the WADA Code and IAAF Rules. At no time do we use science in violation of the WADA Code. We strictly adhere to competition and anti-doping rules at all times. I have not and will not condone any athlete I train using a banned substance and would never encourage any athlete to use a banned substance. We have worked very, very hard to achieve our successes and are proud of our accomplishments.

My drive and determination as an athlete is well known. I pushed myself as far as my body could go. In fact, I trained and ran so hard it nearly killed me and I still suffer today the negative physical effects of my excessive training. I have that same drive and determination as a coach, combined with much more wisdom. I push my athletes to be the best but will not hurt my athletes like I hurt myself.

GALEN RUPP
•Galen suffers from severe allergies and breathing issues. He is medically diagnosed as suffering from both asthma and Hashimotos disease, a thyroid disease.
•Galen has fully disclosed his asthma and allergy treatment to USADA.
•Galen has never taken a banned substance in violation of the WADA Code.
•Claims made around Galen’s prednisone use are false.
•Claims made around Galen’s use of TUEs and manipulation of the TUE system are false.
•Galen has only received two TUEs in his running career since 2010.

Galen is one of the hardest working, most honest and genuine athletes I have ever known. Galen has never taken a banned substance in violation of the WADA Code.

It is wholly unjust that Galen is expected to dispel unfounded allegations, made without proof or evidence, and I would ask that the media consider this important fact. In light of these extremely damaging and false allegations Galen has been left little choice but to share his medical and TUE history to dispel these baseless accusations.

Galen has suffered severe allergies and breathing issues almost his entire life. He also suffers from Hashimotos disease, a thyroid disease. He has a significant history of hypothyroidism on both sides of his family. Allegations that Galen takes asthma and thyroid medicine for competitive purposes are inaccurate and hurtful.

Galen takes asthma medication so he can breathe normally – not so he can run better.

His thyroid condition has been diagnosed and treated by two different endocrinologist specialists. Kara Goucher, one of the primary accusers in the BBC/ProPublica stories, suffers from the same thyroid disease, and, in fact, it was Kara that introduced Galen to the first endocrinologist who treated him. Galen takes his thyroid medication so that his body can function normally – not for any competitive

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