Warning: This article contains descriptions of distressing incidents
Toni Minichiello will “never” be allowed to coach again by UK Athletics after being found to have committed “gross breaches of trust” with sexually inappropriate conduct.
The 56-year-old, who had been subject of multiple complaints from women in athletics, was found to have committed 11 serious charges by an independent case-management group.
Various other charges were not proven.
An independent panel found Minichiello’s actions to “have had severe consequences for the mental health and mental wellbeing of the athletes under his charge”.
The findings relate to anonymous athletes over a 15-year period.
His coaching licence has expired and therefore cannot be subject to a sanction, however UKA says it has decided that it will not entertain any future application made by Minichiello.
“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 licence,” it said.
Minichiello said he was “disappointed” with the decision and the process and strongly denies the charges.
An adjudication panel has found Minichiello:
- made inappropriate sexual references and gestures to athletes.
- failed to respect the athletes’ right to a private life by making intrusive enquiries and personal comments about their personal lives.
- engaged in sexually physical behaviour, namely inappropriate and unwanted touching of athletes to whom he owed a duty of care.
- engaged in inappropriate and sometimes aggressive behaviour, bullying and emotional abuse.
The panel added that Minichiello had mimicked sexual activity with athletes and inappropriately and unwantedly touched some, while also making intrusive enquiries and derogatory comments about their personal lives.
This included making inappropriate comments about some of his athletes’ relationships and boyfriends, telling one she would “never get married” and “never have kids”.
Minichiello was also found to have made one athlete sit in a corner with a cone on their head as a dunce’s hat.
UKA said it “wishes to recognise those who came forward to give evidence in this case. We thank them and strongly encourage anyone with a concern to come forward”.
It is understood UKA is liaising with the complainants over whether they wish for the matter to be passed on to the police.
Minichiello guided Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic glory at London 2012. He has also commentated on athletics for BBC TV.
Ennis-Hill said she had found the news “shocking and upsetting”.
Posting on Instagram she added: “The allegations are awful and although I was never on the receiving end of any sexual physical behaviour, any such inappropriate behaviour or language has no place in any coaching or work environment.
“Everyone should feel safe from any form of physical or mental abuse.”
In a response to the findings, Minichiello said: “I have not behaved inappropriately towards any of my athletes as very many of them would confirm.”
He also said the investigation was “one-sided” and that “the tribunal failed to engage properly with the available evidence”, citing an example in which he said he was in a different country to a complainant at the time of one allegation.
“It is very important that UK Athletics respond quickly and seriously to serious allegations of misconduct, especially when those allegations are made by young people,” he continued.
“However, those investigations and tribunals need to be conducted carefully, with due process and fairly. I do not believe that I have been treated fairly in this instance.”
