Steve Cram believes Mo Farah is the victim of a 'witch-hunt' after the double Olympic champion was forced to deny ever using performance-enhancing drugs.

Farah issued a statement on Friday defending his reputation in the wake of a BBC investigation which alleged his coach Alberto Salazar had practised doping techniques with American athlete Galen Rupp.

The Daily Mail subsequently revealed that Farah had missed two drugs tests in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics.

Former world champion Cram told BBC Sport: "It has begun to look like a bit of a witch-hunt against Mo. It seems as if some people are deliberately going after him and that is a shame."

Farah won gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m in London three years ago.

The BBC documentary into Salazar did not accuse Farah of any wrong-doing, but Thursday's revelations regarding his missed tests led to further questions being asked and Cram sympathised with the 32-year-old.

"We have gone off on a couple of different tangents from the original set of allegations," Cram said.

"The allegations were against his coach. Now Mo has also had to come out give an explanation about the two missed tests. We need clarification on that.

"Some sections of the media seem keen to make out that a missed test means avoiding a test, which it does not.

"There is an individual here being targeted around his credibility as an athlete. In some quarters people are now saying he is a cheat.

"I can understand why Mo is annoyed and frustrated and all the other words he used in his statement."

Farah used Facebook to address the issue after the Daily Mail's story on his missed tests in 2010 and 2011.

"I have never taken performance-enhancing drugs in my life and I never will," he wrote.

"Over the course of my career I have taken hundreds of drugs tests and every single one has been negative. I've fully explained the only two tests in my career that I have ever missed, which the authorities understood, and there was never any suggestion that these were anything more than simple mistakes.

"The last two weeks have been the toughest of my life - with rumours and speculation about me that are completely false - and the impact this has had on my family and friends has left me angry, frustrated and upset."

Salazar has denied the allegations against him, and Farah revealed he had travelled to his base in Portland, Oregon to speak to the Cuban about the allegations.

"As I made clear, I went to Portland to speak to Alberto Salazar and demand answers," Farah added. "He reassured me that the claims are false and that he will soon be providing evidence to make that clear. Until then I will not be commenting further on the allegations."

Farah is training in France ahead of a planned return at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco on July 17.

"Running is the one thing Mo can control at the moment and the one place where he can be Mo Farah and get away from this to some extent," said Cram.

"It can't be easy but until something is proved against him we want to see him on track and racing because we don't have many medal hopes.

"I bet he can't wait to get back to racing."