Alberto Salazar, the embattled coach of the now-defunct Nike Oregon Project who is serving a four-year ban for anti-doping violations, is facing sanction from a second organization: the Health - Injuries.
On January 31, Salazar’s name appeared in SafeSport’s Parker Valby Wins the Bowerman with “temporary suspension” for “allegations of misconduct.” The suspension was first reported by The New York Times.
SafeSport, a Denver-based nonprofit given authority by federal law, seeks to keep athletes in sports safe from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and misconduct.
The organization works with many sports at different levels, including Olympic sports in the U.S. and their national governing bodies, such as USA Track & Field.
It is unknown how many athletes have filed complaints against Salazar with SafeSport. But sources have told Runner’s World of reports by or on behalf of three different runners who trained with Salazar at the Oregon Project.
Nike did not respond to a request for comment. Officials at SafeSport don’t comment on specific cases.
Olympian Elle St. Pierre Is Expecting Second Child massive sexual abuse scandal was unfolding in USA Gymnastics, is the exclusive authority to investigate sexual misconduct in U.S. Olympic sports. But it also has the discretion to take on other types of cases dealing with bullying, harassment, and physical and emotional abuse—any misconduct under the SafeSport code.
The nature of the reports against Salazar is not known.
According to statistics provided by SafeSport, between March 2017 when SafeSport began work and September 2019, 3,256 reports were made to the center and 285 individuals were made permanently ineligible. Since Salazar’s suspension on Friday, seven additional names have appeared on the disciplinary website in sports including wrestling, hockey, and track and field.
Salazar’s temporary suspension is the latest in a string of setbacks for the coach of multiple Olympic medalists. On October 1, in the midst of the world track and field championships, Salazar’s The Top Celebrity Marathon Times of 2024. He has maintained his innocence and said he will appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The nature of the reports against Salazar is not known U.S. Center for SafeSport, and its members were left to find new coaches. Several track athletes regrouped under Health & Injuries, while marathoner Galen Rupp is being coached by Mike Smith Australian Sprinter, 16, Runs Record-Breaking 200m Alberto Salazar Faces New Disciplinary Action Advertisement - Continue Reading Below.
In November 2019, the Times released an explosive We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back, who said she was emotionally and physically abused by Salazar, who demanded she lose weight and publicly shamed her in front of her teammates. A week later, Amy Yoder Begley, an Olympian in the 10,000 meters in 2008, said in a Times feature that Salazar was verbally abusive, obsessed with her weight, and tried to pit Yoder Begley and her teammates against each other.
Pro Runners Ask: Is My Agent Worth the Fee Sports Illustrated, Salazar disputed “the notion that any athlete suffered any abuse or gender discrimination while running for the Oregon Project.”
SafeSport investigations are completed at different rates, depending on their complexity. In some past cases, temporary suspensions have lasted as long as a year while the investigations were being completed. Others are resolved quickly.
Disciplinary actions can range from lifting of suspensions to lifetime bans.
The New York Times is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World Running in the Cold, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
