ROB CHAKRAVERTY has quit as England football team doctor in the wake of controversial Mo Farah injections.
Dr Chakraverty injected Olympic hero Farah four times with the legal supplement L-Carnitine before the 2014 London Marathon when he was a UK Athletics medic.
Chakraverty has quit as England team doc in the wake of the Farah injection controversy
Though neither have been accused of any wrongdoing – and the procedure did not break anti-doping rules – Chakraverty has faced intense scrutiny and criticism for alleged poor record-keeping.
Chakraverty said: “It has been a privilege to work as the lead doctor to the England men’s senior team since joining The FA in 2016.
“The team and players have been wonderful to work with and the memories of what we achieved together at the World Cup two years ago will stay with me forever.
“The time is now right to step away from this role and seek new challenges enabling my successor to establish themselves into the team before the next tournament.
“I would like to thank my colleagues and the players for their support and wish them every success in achieving their goals in the tournaments to come.”
Chakraverty worked at UKA between 2009 and 2016, working during the London Olympics and Paralympics and rising to the position of chief medical officer.
He had worked with the England men’s football team since September 2016.
There are no suggestions of any wrongdoing by Chakraverty during his time with the FA.
POSITION QUESTIONED
But his position has been questioned by recent allegations in his previous role in track-and-field.
An FA spokesperson said: “The FA can confirm Dr Rob Chakraverty is to stand down from his role with the England senior men’s team.
“We would like to offer our sincere thanks to Rob, not just for his part in the team’s progress since 2016 but also in sharing his expertise across the wider medical department.
“We wish him every success for the future. A decision regarding his replacement will be made ahead of the next England camp, whenever scheduled.”
Meanwhile, an independent QC-led review has found the UKA board made “reasonable” decisions to continue working with Farah’s ex-coach Alberto Salazar after doping allegations surfaced.
Yet it claimed the governing body’s handling of the scandal “could have been better managed and implemented”.
Salazar, 61, was banned from athletics for four years last October after being found guilty of doping violations. He is appealing the decision.
Salazar was banned from athletics for four years last OctoberCredit: PA:Press Association
The 130-page review claimed athletics chiefs Neil Black and Barry Fudge felt their positions would be “untenable” if there was a knee-jerk decision to split with Salazar.
It is believed some members of the Board felt this stance from the performance team was “in effect blackmail”.
But Black and Fudge denied that charge, arguing Salazar was innocent until proven guilty and “their ability to deliver against medal-targets set by UK Sport would be hampered”.
Panorama investigation reveals Mo Farah backtracked on using L-carnatine injections ahead of the London Marathon in 2015
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
