Alberto Salazar is also currently serving a four-year ban for anti-doping violations.
The United States Center for SafeSport has ruled former track coach Alberto Salazar permanently ineligible for sexual misconduct and emotional misconduct on the center's website on Monday.
The decision by SafeSport, an independent body that handles many investigations and complaints into abuse and misconduct in Olympic sports, is subject to appeal by Salazar.
Salazar was placed on the temporarily banned list in January 2020 as the center investigated his behavior toward women that he has coached.
In November 2019, former high school star Mary Cain spoke out about years of abuse under Salazar's guidance as a member of the Nike Oregon Project. In the days after coming forward with her account in an Op-Doc with the New York Times, several former Oregon Project members validated her claims and shared their own experiences about the toxic team culture under Salazar.
Salazar denied all allegations of abuse.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency banned Salazar and Dr. Jeffrey Brown in September 2019 for four years. While no athlete who has trained under Salazar has ever tested positive for any banned substance, USADA determined Salazar tampered with the doping control process and trafficked banned performance-enhancing substances including testosterone.
Salazar has denied any wrongdoing and is appealing that ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The case was heard in March after it was delayed from its initial hearing in November 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. No decision has been released by CAS on whether Salazar's ban will be upheld, shortened or overturned.
Nike shuttered the Oregon Project in October 2019. Several former Salazar athletes are competing at the Tokyo Olympics.
Chris Chavez July 27, 2021 at 01:44AM
