Osako Criticizes People Who Think He Is Doping, Calling Them "Really Simple-Minded"

On Nov. 10, men's marathon national record holder Suguru Osako took to Twitter to lash out at people who suspect him of doping. Sponsored by Nike, Osako was a longtime member of the Nike Oregon Project team. The team's head coach Alberto Salazar was recently suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for four years as the result of an investigation into his misuse of restricted substances and methods.

Osako posted his opinions on his Twitter account @sugurusako at 8:46 a.m. on Nov. 10, denying that he has doped. "It seems like people seem to think that what happened with the Oregon Project means that I'm already guilty of doping, but anyone who thinks that way is really, really simple-minded," he wrote. "My coach never even once told me to take drugs or get injections that I didn't understand, and I've checked every single supplement and throat lozenge that's gone in my mouth."

At the Nike Oregon Project Osako was not coached by Salazar but by his assistant coach Pete Julian. He currently holds the men's marathon national record. At September's MGC Race 2020 Olympic marathon trials he finished 3rd, missing out on a guaranteed place on the Olympic team but set to pick up the third spot on the team if no other athlete breaks his national record at one of the three selection races this winter.

Translator's note: As of this year Osako is represented by Federico Rosa.

source article:
https://www.daily.co.jp/general/2019/11/10/0012865163.shtml
translated by Brett Larner