Scalar meson decay constants and the nature of the a(0)(980)

The a(0)(980), a(0)(1430) decay constants are determined using a form of QC D sum rules known to produce an accurate determination of the rho decay con stant. The ratio of a(0)(980) to K-0*(1430) decay constants is shown to be similar to 0.6, ruling out both the "loosely-bound-K (K) over bar -molecule " and Gribov minion scenarios for the ao(980). A recent claim, based on an alternate sum rule analysis, that the coupling of the ao(980) to the isovec tor scaler density is, in contrast to the present results, negligible, is s hown to result from the overly-restrictive form employed for the spectral a nsatz, and to be ruled out.