Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah stopped by U.S. Customs for 'routine questioning,' says coach Alberto Salazar

By Katherine Driessen, The Oregonian
on December 30, 2012 at 11:47 AM, updated December 30, 2012 at 12:10 PM

 Britain's Mo Farah goes to cross the finish line to win gold in the men's 10,000-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012. AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa De Olza   Olympic gold medalist 

Mo Farah was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials two weeks ago while returning to Portland from London in what has become "routine questioning," according to his coach Alberto Salazar. 

Salazar said the incident was "blown out of proportion" by British newspapers Sunday that reported Farah was held under suspicion of being a terrorist.

Farah, a British distance runner, moved to Portland almost two years ago to train with Salazar at the Nike World Headquarters near Beaverton.

The Somali-born runner emigrated to England as a child and is often questioned at U.S. Customs, Salazar said, and the stop two weeks ago was nothing out of the ordinary.
 
Farah usually mentions such instances to his coach, but did not mention the most recent incident to Salazar until The Oregonian called Salazar Sunday morning, and he in turn called Farah.

"It was not a big deal at all," Salazar said. "That's why he didn't even say anything about it."

 Britain's Mo Farah, right, crosses the finish line to win gold ahead of United States' Galen Rupp in the men's 10,000-meter final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, on Aug. 4 The Associated Press   

Farah could not be reached for comment Sunday.

The two-time gold medalist at the 2012 Olympic Games was returning from BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year event in London. He was detained for no more than 20 minutes, Salazar said.

Farah did show his Olympic gold medals to U.S. Customs officers in an attempt to prove his identity, Salazar said.

Farah is set to run with training partner Galen Rupp at Nike headquarters later today, Salazar said.