Jess Ennis-Hill's coach slaughters Mo Farah over missed doping tests

The Daily Mail reported on Thursday that Farah missed two doping tests in the run-up to the London 2012 Olympic games.

Missing two tests is entirely legal under anti-doping regulations, but missing three in a 12-month period (or three in 18 months, at the time Farah missed his) can lead to a ban of up to four years.

[REPORT: Mo Farah accused of missing two doping tests before London 2012]

Many athletes have queued up to support Farah, pointing out that missing tests is easily done. Eurosport's Ben Snowball argued in a powerful blog that the Olympic and World 5,000m and 10,000m champion should not have his name besmirched when he has done nothing wrong, and British athlete Hannah England said that the situation is "turning into a witch-hunt against Mo".

But Minichiello, the man who coached Jess Ennis-Hill to Olympic heptathlon gold in 2012, has rubbished those statements.

"It's part of your job as a professional athlete," he told the Daily Mirror.

"You remember your kit. You remember your spikes for training. You make yourself available for testing for one hour each day.

"You shouldn't be missing tests, you should be organised well enough. The 'one hour availability' I think is a good system.

"You're given three chances. In effect you get two warnings.

"Different situations do arise. But until that hour starts you can notify the testers by email, text message or phone call, to inform them of any change to your circumstances.”

The numbers do back up Minichiello's claim: the 266 British athletes on the testing register in 2014 missed a total of 37 tests between them. UK Anti-Doping’s chief executive Nicole Sapstead refused to give details of how many athletes missed multiple tests, but did tell the Guardian that it is "not common".

Minichiello added that he also believes the testing regime should be increased - something suggested by former European 800m silver medallist Michael Rimmer, who actually complained that testing "happens so infrequently it is impossible to remember.

"There isn't enough [testing],” Minichiello added.

“If the only excuse is money then it's a weak excuse. Whatever the cost it's a small price to pay for the credibility of the sport. The IAAF should at least triple the number of tests it does.

“We were at the Gotzis heptathlon recently and the IAAF would only pay for six tests - three men, three women – when there were 50+ athletes competing.

"The 1-2-3 were not automatically tested, athletes where chosen at random. Jess was tested and she came fourth.

“If we're genuine about testing, if we really want to do something, then as soon as you make top-30 in the world your name goes on a register and you're tested monthly.”