British coach joked about disqualification – Sport – Kommersant

British athletics is experiencing an extremely high-profile scandal with a sexual component. The British Athletics Federation (UK Athletics), following a special investigation, decided to ban for life one of its most famous coaches, Tony Minichiello, who trained the London Olympic champion in the heptathlon Jessica Ennis-Hill. Minichiello was found guilty of “inappropriate sexual behavior”: during training, he touched the genitals of athletes, made inappropriate jokes about them, and humiliated and intimidated them.

On August 9, the British Athletics Federation published on its official website investigation resultsinitiated against one of his most successful coaches – Tony Minichiello. As a result of the proceedings, the structure came to the conclusion that the “immoral” behavior of the mentor caused serious damage to the “mental health” and “psychological well-being” of his wards, and therefore decided never to issue a coaching license to Minichiello again.

Tony Minichiello, 56, has been reviewed by a UK Athletics task force after receiving numerous complaints from athletes who have worked with him over the past 15 years.

His most decorated student is Jessica Ennis-Hill, who specialized in the heptathlon, a sport that includes the 100m hurdles, high and long jump, shot put, the 200m and 800m runs, and the javelin throw. Ennis-Hill has already retired, but in the past decade, under the leadership of Minichiello, she managed to collect a very decent collection of awards: three world championship golds, a European championship gold and two Olympic medals – the gold of the London Olympics in 2012 and the silver of the Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016 . Ennis Hill was often named the face of the Olympic Games a decade ago, and her coach Minichiello was recognized as the best mentor of the year for the triumph of her ward in London and received an award from the hands of Princess Anne, daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Guardian clarifies that Ennis-Hill was not on the list of those who complained about Minichiello. Other athletes, whose names were not released, said that he often behaved “inappropriately” towards them in training.

So, Tony Minichiello touched girls’ genitals, made inappropriate jokes (for example, he called his penis “spicy Italian sausage”) and hints at athletes, asked them about their personal lives and sexual experiences.

In addition, Minichiello was credited with excessive aggression. He, it was said in the complaints, publicly humiliated and insulted the athletes, and, for example, forced one of them to sit in a corner with a cone on her head as a punishment.

Previously, British athletics has been at the center of similar scandals. They were connected with the figure of another coach – the American Rana Ryder, who worked with the sprint group of the national team. In 2014, UK Athletics, as reported by the publication Daily Mail seven years later, tested the allegations against Ryder: he allegedly molested an 18-year-old runner. Then the case was not made public.

Already in 2021, after this information was leaked to the media, the federation called on its athletes to urgently stop cooperation with Rana Ryder and threatened to deprive those who did not comply with funding. Some athletes – for example, two-time Olympic bronze medalist Nate Darryl – followed the advice of the structure, while others – Adam Jemil and Nielsen Laviai – decided in the meantime to continue working with Ryder and moved to the United States with him.

Ekaterina Remizova