Two-time U.S. Olympian Kara Goucher said “people have been threatened” at the U.S. Track and Field Championships, 25 days after Goucher and others were sources in reports accusing Nike Oregon Project head coach Alberto Salazar of violating medical and anti-doping rules.
“People have been threatened at this meet; I hope they come forward,” Goucher told media after finishing 18th in the 5000m at the U.S. Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Sunday, failing to make the World Championships team. “I want my son to be able to believe in the sport and the system. I want USADA [the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency] to show they work, and I want justice for everyone involved.”
Goucher said she hasn’t had contact with Salazar at the U.S. Championships. Salazar is at the meet coaching his current athletes. Goucher is a former Salazar-coached athlete.
Goucher said multiple more sources have come forward since she was one of the sources in June 3 reports by ProPublica and the BBC and said she would provide more evidence “in the coming days.”
Goucher said Salazar’s 11,000-word response to the June 3 reports last week makes it looks like she’s a liar.
“This is a burden I’ve been carrying around for years,” Goucher said. “I finally had the courage to speak to USADA.”
Goucher said she first talked to USADA on Feb. 1 or Feb. 2 in 2013, motivated after she saw Lance Armstrong admit to using performance-enhancing drugs in his career in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in January 2013.
“I believe USADA’s doing everything in their power,” Goucher said. “Think of how long it took for Lance.”