World Athletics awaits report on Rana Reider after coach reveals penalty | Athletics

World Athletics is awaiting a report from the US Center for SafeSport on Rana Reider after the renowned sprint coach revealed he had been penalized for a relationship that “presented an imbalance of power” with one of his athletes.

Reider, who guided Andre de Grasse to the Olympic 200m title and also coached British athletes Adam Gemili and Daryll Neita before they called it quits, will now have to undergo a 12-month probationary period after acknowledging his behavior. . However, his attorney, Ryan Stevens, said Reider “was not found to be in violation of any other sexual misconduct claim” against him.

The Guardian understands that it may not be the end of the matter as there could be further repercussions once World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit have seen the full report from SafeSport USA.

Last year, Reider was denied accreditation for the world championships in Eugene as a result of the investigation against him, before later being warned by police after gaining unauthorized access to the athlete warm-up area prior to the 100m world final. It is understood that World Athletics could still exercise that right again for this year’s event in Budapest, while USA Track & Field also discussed their response on Wednesday night.

the guardian first broke the story of the US Safesport investigation into Reider for allegations of sexual misconduct in November 2021, after which it emerged that he had had a alleged affair with a teenage British athlete 26 years his junior when she was 18 and he was the UK’s leading track and relay race.

UKA also confirmed that it had carried out an internal investigation into Reider in 2014 and that his contract with the coach was terminated “shortly thereafter”. He also said that a query would now be handled differently.

There have been no further details from US Safesport about its decision to sanction Reider, with the watchdog telling The Guardian that it “did not discuss matters to protect the integrity of its investigative processes.” However, he did not dispute a statement and subsequent comments from Reider’s lawyer that the trainer had entered into an “informal resolution with the US Center for Safesport”, had been sanctioned but was free to continue his training. elite group of sprinters and jumpers.

“Mr. Reider acknowledged his consensual romantic relationship with an adult athlete, which presented an imbalance of power during the relationship,” Stevens’ statement added. “Mr. Reider was not found in violation of any other sexual misconduct claim. All other claims are now administratively closed. Mr. Reider has credibly and consistently denied all other allegations of sexual misconduct.”

In further clarification, Stevens added: “His penalties include one year of probation and education on SafeSport. [already completed].” Stevens also confirmed that Reider was able to return to training elite athletes without supervision.

World Athletics said it would consider any implications and communicate further once it has received the report from SafeSport USA. Meanwhile, Athletic Integrity Unit head Brett Clothier said: “The AIU has just been made aware of this. development today. We will consider the matter, but are not in a position to comment at this time.”