Alberto Salazar denies abuse, admits 'callous' language

Disgraced running coach Alberto Salazar denied subjecting former members of his Nike Oregon Project to abuse or discrimination on Tuesday but mitted using "callous" langu against athletes in training group. Salazar, who was banned for four years last month for a range of doping offences, has faced stinging criticism from several former runners over methods used in his controversial Oregon Project, which has w been disbanded. Last week, former US runner Mary Cain said she h suffered physical and mental abuse at training camp as a result of Salazar's demanding regime.

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Cain, a former high school prodigy who was tipped for middle-distance greatness, said she h suffered suicidal thoughts and started cutting herself as life in training group took its toll. In an op-ed in New York Times, Cain detailed how she h faced pressure to become "thinner and thinner and thinner," eventually causing her to stop menstruating for three years. Ar former runner, Olympian Amy Begley, said Salazar barred her from training group in 2011, complaining she was "too fat" and "h biggest butt on starting line."

In a statement to Oregonian newspaper Tuesday, Salazar ackwledged using insensitive langu but insisted it was part and parcel of life as an elite athlete. "On occasion, I may have me comments that were callous or insensitive over course of years of helping my athletes through hard training," Salazar said. "If any athlete was hurt by any comments that I have me, such an effect was entirely unintended, and I am sorry. "I do dispute, however, tion that any athlete suffered any abuse or discrimination while running for Oregon Project."

Salazar said his emphasis on weight was related to "what (an athlete's) target training weight and performance weight should be to attain peak performance while maintaining overall good well-being." "That's part of elite sport," Salazar said. "Maybe that needs to change. Indeed, I have always treated men and women similarly in this regard -- to treat my female athletes differently I believe would t be in ir personal interests or in interests of promoting ir best athletic performance." Nike shut down Oregon Project in October when Salazar was banned for four years for an array of doping offenses that included trafficking in testosterone, tampering with doping control process and ministering illicit infusions of fat-burning substance L-carnitine. Salazar has denied wrongdoing and vowed to appeal ban. 

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