24 February 2020

UK Athletics operates an absolute zero tolerance policy towards the use of banned performance enhancing drugs and methods and toward any and all doping practices within sport.

We recognise and take seriously the issues raised by USADA’s ruling and fully supported their investigation.

L Carnitine is a legal and scientifically legitimate food supplement that can be used by endurance athletes across a number of sports. It is not a prohibited substance and has previously been used in drink form.

Over the past few years, a small number of British athletes have used L Carnitine, and, to our knowledge, all doses and methods of administration have been fully in accordance with WADA protocol.

All the information, emails and documentation relating to the use of L Carnitine prior to the 2014 London Marathon were voluntarily handed to USADA in 2015. This was also covered in full during UKA’s detailed testimonies to the Parliamentary Select Committee in 2017.

Both make clear the dosage provided to Mo Farah was well within the 50ml limit permitted by WADA. UKA personnel took steps throughout to ensure that full and honest accounts of the process were given in all forums. Any suggestion to the contrary is false and misleading.

The report published following the Select Committee Hearings stated the Committee noted the progress made by UKA in medical record keeping since 2014 – a key recommendation from UKA’s own investigation conducted in 2015. The core recommendations from this investigation were published in January 2016 and can be found here.

Since USADA’s ruling in October 2019, UKA has commissioned an independent QC-led Review to look at how the organisation responded to the Nike Oregon Project issues in 2015 and 2017, the recommendations made at the time and subsequent related decisions made by the UKA Board at those respective times.

The independent review will also set out any recommendations to assist UKA to ensure its future governance and assurance framework is robust.