Nike's CEO was briefed by banned coach Alberto Salazar about experiments with performance-enhancing drugs, according to an anti-doping agency report
By Sara Germano and Joshua Robinson Oct. 1, 2019 12:51 pm ET Nike-backed running coach Alberto Salazar on numerous occasions briefed top Nike Inc. officials, including chief executive Mark Parker, on his experiments to manipulate the use of performance-enhancing drugs for track and field athletes, according to emails referenced in reports published by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency on Monday.
Mr. Parker was included on several emails from Mr. Salazar and Dr. Brown, detailing the pair’s ongoing research to find performance-enhancing benefits for a stable of Olympic runners in the highly decorated Nike Oregon Project, an elite training group based at the company’s Beaverton, Ore., headquarters.
Mr. Parker responded, “Jeff, thanks for the update on the tests. It will be interesting to determine the minimal amount of topical male hormone required to create a positive test. Are there other topical hormones that would create more dramatic results…or other substances that would accelerate the rate of absorption into the body?”
Usada argues that “this same experiment can be used to further the nefarious purpose of evading doping control just as easily as it can be used for the claimed prophylactic purpose of determining the likely success of attempted sabotage.” In a December 2011 email, Mr. Salazar wrote to Mr. Armstrong directly, “Lance, call me asap! We have tested it and it’s amazing!,” according to one of the reports. He continued, “It’s too incredible. All completely legal and natural. You will finish the Iron Man in about 16 minutes less while taking this.” Mr. Armstrong said in an email Tuesday that he never tested or tried L-carnitine.
A receptionist at Dr. Brown’s medical office in Houston said he wasn’t immediately available early Tuesday. The endocrinologist stopped consulting for Nike in 2013, according to the reports.
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