LONDON — Toni Minichiello, one of
Britain’s
leading track and field coaches, has been given a life ban after an
investigation found he had engaged in “sexually physical behavior” with
athletes.
اضافة اعلان
But Minichiello, who coached Jessica Ennis-Hill to
heptathlon gold at the
2012 London Olympics, responded to Tuesday’s
announcement from UK Athletics (UKA) by saying he had been subjected to an
“unfair” process, adding in a statement: “I strongly deny all the charges
against me.”
Minichiello was also deemed to have made
inappropriate sexual references and gestures to athletes and engaged in
“inappropriate and sometimes aggressive behavior, bullying, and emotional
abuse”.
None of the female athletes allegedly abused by
Minichiello has been named in a report published by UK Athletics on Tuesday.
Both the Guardian and Daily Telegraph newspapers
said they understood Ennis-Hill was not one of the athletes involved.
UK Athletics said the findings, which amount to
multiple breaches of its coach license terms over a 15-year period, “constitute
gross breaches of trust” and are of the “utmost seriousness”.
‘Demanding not inappropriate’
But the 56-year-old
Minchiello insisted: “I have been a coach for over 30 years and while I have
been robust and demanding, I have not behaved inappropriately towards any of my
athletes as very many of them would confirm.”
Minichiello’s coaching license expired during the
disciplinary process, which means he cannot be suspended or subject to a
sanction by UK Athletics.
However, the national governing body has said it
will not consider any future application made by Minichiello for a coach
license.
“UKA has considered the matter and decided that
these findings are of the utmost seriousness,” said a statement.
“They constitute gross breaches of trust by Mr
Minichiello which have had severe consequences for the mental health and mental
wellbeing of the athletes under his charge.
“The issuance of a UKA license to a coach is
essentially a representation on behalf of UKA that the coach in question can be
trusted with the athletes under his charge.
“UKA is firmly of the view that there will never be
a time in the future at which it would be appropriate to grant that assurance
and issue such a license,” with the statement adding any future application by
Minichiello would be refused “in perpetuity.”
The coach, however, said a tribunal had “failed to
engage” with the available evidence, with Minichiello saying one of the most
serious allegations against him had taken place when he was in a different
country to his accuser.
“It is very important UK Athletics respond quickly
and seriously to allegations of misconduct, especially when those allegations
are made by young people,” said Minichiello.
“However, those investigations and tribunals need to
be conducted carefully, with due process, and fairly.
“I do not believe I have been treated fairly in this
instance.”
Ennis-Hill has yet to make
a public comment about her former coach’s ban.
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