Aouita :
Chased out of Australian coaching role after being accused by multiple top athletes of pressurising them to take PEDs, particularly HGH which he allegedly believed was essential to success.
Despite being a student at the elite French National Sporting Academy until 22, barely progressed if at all until age 23 and a move to Italy where he almost overnight turns from a B circuit runner into a world elite at 800 to 5000. At the same time, starts spending time in the USA where HGH has just become available and is leading to a remarkable improvement in sprint and 800m times for American based athletes.
Claimed to have ran a 3:40 1500m at 18 in plimsolls in his first ever run. Claimed his complete lack of progression after 5 years of elite training g on 'parasites'.
Very secretive about training methods. Was self-coached. Claims to have discovered 'secret methods' that turned him from a 1:50/3:40/13:40 guy at 22 into a 1:44/3:30/13:00 guy at 23. Despite this, all his subsequent coaching roles were disasters.
Employed numerous doctors. He had more doctors than coaches. One of them, the Belgian George Moutons, was subsequently arrested for supplying dozens of cyclists and runners with EPO.
Lied on his application for the Australian coaching role. Claimed falsely to have coached El G and been fully responsible for his success. El G's real coach didn't like that.
Dubious date of birth. Originally born in 1959, later 1960 so he was the same age as rival Cram.
Known for being 100% financially motivated. An egoist and volatile, he felt overshadowed by Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis at Seoul so made the absurd boast that he was going to win the 800, 1500, and 5000m. He finished with a bronze in the 800, only his second middle-distance medal (his other also a bronze from Helsinki in the 1500m).
First Moroccan great, a country now known as one of the dirtiest doping cultures on Earth.
Avoided the Brits and any serious rivals at all times. Admitted the 1500 was his favorite event, but ran the 5000 in championships as it was easier to win. Carefully cultivated his 'most extraordinary range in bistory' myth. In fact, his range came from avoiding rivals and likely blood doping. He is the only 5000m runner in history to spend an entire season training for the 800m. When he ran his 800m pb, he never ran a 5000m that season. In the year he ran his 10000 pb, he never ran a 800m that season. Compare with Steve Ovett, who beat peak Henry Rono over 2 miles and setting a new world record in the process, only weeks after running his lifetime 800m pb (in losing only to doper Beyer, but beating Coe convincingly). In 1980, Ovett would be favored to medal in 800, 1500, or 5000m. Aouita would never have a year at the top of all 3 events.