One of Britain’s leading athletics coaches, Toni Minichiello, was banned for life by the British Athletics Federation (UKA) on Tuesday August 9 after an internal investigation concluded he had long-standing “inappropriate sexual behavior” to several athletes.
Minichiello, who was notably the coach of Jessica Ennis-Hill during her heptathlon title at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, also had gestures and behaviors “sometimes aggressive” within “moral harassment” towards athletes, according to the conclusions of this investigation. The UKA concluded that it had “repeatedly violated the terms of its license, over a period exceeding 15 years”evoking a “serious breach of trust”.
Toni Minichiello banned for life by UK Athletics over sexually inappropriate conduct https://t.co/kwHJvVkbHI
— The Guardian (@guardian) August 9, 2022
“I strongly deny all the charges against me”reacted, late Tuesday afternoon in a press release, the 56-year-old coach. “I have been a coach for over 30 years and although I have been tough and demanding, I have never behaved inappropriately towards any of my athletes”, insisted the coach. The identity of the victim athletes was not disclosed by the federation’s report.
Athletics coach Toni Minichiello statement denying behaving inappropriately towards any of his athletes after being banned for life by UKA after being found to have committed “gross breaches of trust” https://t.co/rcLsRRgUCS pic.twitter.com/YjIlXgtacK
— Dan Roan (@danroan) August 9, 2022
While his license expired during his suspension, the UKA is “convinced” that there will be “Never again” the possibility of granting another to Toni Minichiello. Also any new request will be rejected. “for life”. The British Federation “considers that the subject and the results of the investigation are of the utmost seriousness”with “Major repercussions on the health and mental well-being of the athletes under his care”is it still written.
For his part, Minichiello asserted that justice “failed to prosecute” with the evidence available against him. “One of the most serious accusations took place when I was in a different country from the person accusing me,” he assured.
“It is very important that the federation responds quickly to allegations of misconduct, especially when they are made by young athletes. However, these investigations must be carried out carefully in accordance with due process. I do not believe to have been treated fairly in this matter”he concluded.