Laura Muir downplays decision to link up with controversial Nike Oregon Project

Muir has confirmed that she’ll be joining up with the Oregon Project’s strength and conditioning coach David McHenry

The middle distance runner told fans ‘not to worry’ after news of her association with the Nike Oregon Project emerged (Reuters)

Britain’s Laura Muir has downplayed her decision to start working with a coach from the controversial Nike Oregon Project.

Despite the ongoing investigation currently being carried out by the US Anti-Doping agency into the American training group, which is run by Alberto Salazar, Muir has confirmed that she’ll be joining up with the organisation's strength and conditioning coach David McHenry.

Muir, who won bronze and silver at the World Indoor Championships in March, will continue to be coached by Andy Young.

Taking to social media, the middle distance runner told fans ‘not to worry’ after news of her association with the Nike Oregon Project emerged.

“Don't worry guys Andy is still my only coach, he isn't getting rid of me that easily,” she said.

“While I am a Nike athlete, I am not joining or working with any other groups, or leaving Glasgow, nor have they asked me to.

“I am planning on starting working with one of Nike's (and the worlds) top Strength and Conditioning experts, although for now its by video clips and I haven't progressed past the floor exercises with the rubber band... so maybe not so much strength just yet!”

Young explained to the Daily Mail it was his decision to add McHenry to Muir's team in a bid to improve the Briton’s performance. Young said: “He's the best in the world.”

Muir’s willingness to work under a coach from the Oregon Project is likely to raise questions, given the 24-year-old’s revelation last month that she does not speak to rival Genzebe Dibaba due to her links with Jama Aden – the Somalia coach arrested in 2016 as part of an anti-doping investigation.

"It can be difficult [running alongside Dibaba] but I think I've always said that no matter who's on the start line, I'll race against them,” Muir said in Birmingham earlier this year. “The reason I'm in this sport is because I enjoy it and nobody is going to stop me from enjoying it.”

Alberto Salazar runs the Nike Oregon Project, which is currently being investigated by USAD (Getty Images)

Aden denies any doping offences, while Dibaba, who has never failed a drugs test, maintains she would drop her coach were he ever found guilty of doping-related offences.

In a bid to ease concerns surrounding Muir’s latest career move, Young stressed that McHenry does not work exclusively with the American training group run by Salazar – former coach to Mo Farah.

McHenry has been based at the Oregon Project as a physical therapist since 2005 and was appointed head strength and conditioning coach in 2011.