Nike Oregon Project shut down

Following the September 30 ban of head coach Alberto Salazar, the Oregon Project has been shut down by Nike. Runner’s World reports that Nike chairman and president Mark Parker has decided to end the programme.

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Parker wrote in a memo to Runner’s World: “This situation, along with ongoing unsubstantiated assertions, is a distraction for many of the athletes and is compromising their ability to focus on their training and competition needs. I have therefore made the decision to wind down the Oregon Project.”

RELATED: Alberto Salazar gets four-year ban for doping violations

The US Anti-Doping Agency banned Salazar last week for four years following a years-long investigation and secret arbitration case. The details appear in a BBC report by journalist Mark Daly and a statement by USADA outlining the specific charges, which include trafficking in testosterone (a banned substance), illegal methods and evidence-tampering at the NOP’s Beaverton, Oregon headquarters. Salazar is former coach to Mo Farah and Kara Goucher and current coach of marathoner Galen Rupp and the newly-crowned 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan, among others.

RELATED: 5 World Championships medal hopefuls without a coach

Salazar had multiple world championship medallist at the Doha World Championships which wrapped on Sunday. These medallists include new American 800m record holder and world champion Donovan Brazier.

Rupp and Jordan Hasay are both attempting to set new American marathon records on Sunday in Chicago. Both runners were formerly members of the Oregon Project.