UK Athletics has taken the unusual step of revealing that Toni Minichiello, who guided Jessica Ennis-Hill to Olympic glory at London 2012, has been provisionally suspended after complaints about his behaviour.
In a statement UKA said it had not planned to release the news while an investigation was active. However, it had changed its position after Minichiello was “apparently” seen coaching athletes in Sheffield in violation of his suspension.
“Following complaints from female athletes, an investigation was commenced concerning Mr Minichiello’s behaviour. That investigation is ongoing,” the UKA statement said.
“In the interests of all concerned, UK Athletics initially resolved not to publicly announce Mr Minichiello’s suspension. However, UKA has recently been made aware that Mr Minichiello has apparently breached the terms of his suspension. Specifically, Mr Minichiello has been seen coaching athletes at a facility in Sheffield, in clear contravention of the express terms of his suspension.
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“For this reason, and to avoid similar occurrences happening in the future, UK Athletics has no alternative but to make the suspended status of Mr Minichiello public.”
Minichiello has not commented on the UKA statement but in 2017 he rejected suggestions that he is a tough coach, saying that while he always pushed his athletes to achieve more than they ever thought was possible, he has never bullied them.
“I think I am a fair, honest and straight-batting coach,” he said. “I won’t lie to my athletes and neither will I gild the lily. In her book Jess said we had a ‘love/hate relationship that has caused me more tears, pain and ultimately joy than I have ever dreaded or wished for’ – she was talking about all the hard training we did together.”
UKA added that anyone under suspension remains innocent until proven guilty, according to the proper processes of the law. “It is an interim protective measure which tells one nothing more than that an investigation is proceeding.”