Toni Minichiello, former coach of Jessica Ennis-Hill, suspended by UK Athletics

[carterhatch]

https://uk.yahoo.com/sports/news/toni-minichello-former-coach-jessica-161523325.html

[Ursus]

Times reporting that he’s been subject to a number of complaints from women. No details given.

[Ladyloz]

I don't imagine we'll get too many details in the public domain whilst the investigation is ongoing

[Occasional Hope]

There was a previous issue in 2017: Toni Minichiello set to be warned over swearing at female athlete | Athletics | The Guardian

[philipo]

I bet he swore at Ennis hill more than once but due to the weird woke PC society that has drowned out what all coaches in all sports in all countries do and say to chastise and motivate their athletes he I s in the shit: watch this attitude gradually screw up GB sport.

[MysteryBrick]

Good to see the awfully modern idea of avoiding casting judgement until the facts are known hasn't been too pervasive

[larkim]

"woke" and "wierd" or not, there are right and wrong ways to coach and motivate athletes. If we assume (without much evidence so far) that TM is being accused of some sort of bullying or abusive behaviour to an athlete (male or female) then I'm happy to be on the "woke" and "wierd" side which wants such accusations looking into and being properly dealt with.

[Laps]

Never mind the judgement, beware the process.
Cannot think of a better way to humiliate and drive successful old-school coaches out of sport than to publicly suspend and carry out interminable investigations.

[RunUnlimited]

So, anything to say now after Minichello was given a life ban today? Anything at all?

[Laps]

Of course.

The result is what it is. No doubt the changes in society attitudes during Minichiello's coaching career required of him very different behaviour when dealing with today's young people, and he failed to adapt. Assuming the necessary warnings along way were disregarded he deserved the result.

The investigation and conclusion took 14 months which is at least 12 months too long in my world. Society and individuals lose immensely from these interminable investigations, particularly public inquiries which go on for years (eg Grenfell, Child Abuse etc etc). All more work for the legal profession. The rest of us lose out big time.

The point of my comment stands 100 percent.

Ultimately it is a shame because he gave a great deal to athletics.

[philipo]

Never mind the judgement, beware the process.
Cannot think of a better way to humiliate and drive successful old-school coaches out of sport than to publicly suspend and carry out interminable investigations.

agreed laps

[Ladyloz]

Well these comments have aged well.

[Laps]

See above. The comment is still true regardless of the outcome of any one case.

[SprintRelayFan]

Banned for life. Pretty grim reading https://t.co/TnTwaoiggh

[LuckySpikes]

Yeah, disgraceful behaviour. People like him just don't seem to recognise the boundaries. Or, maybe they do but they think they're bulletproof because of their standing in the sport.

[jjimbojames]

Allegations say it’s over a period of 15 years….you’d have thought JEH would have something to say, but she’s very media-trained, so perhaps choosing the path of silence. Presumably awkward for the BBC to bring it up next week, as they hired him!

[SprintRelayFan]

I think at the time it was said JEH hadn’t complained. Apparently he’d coached her since she was 13 so I’m Hoping he didn’t see her in that light because of that

[jjimbojames]

But you’d think she’d call it out, if she saw it - over that length of time. Maybe she never saw it. I doubt anyone would deny he is old school in his coaching/attitude, but for them to say there are repeated incidents over 15 years…it’s a lot to take in.

[SprintRelayFan]

I don’t know - different scenario but I had a boss who would throw massive tantrums but only ever when his boss wasn’t around. Perhaps TM picked his moments

[Sprintfan]

Sad end to a career

[Ursus]

Awful.

This is a difficult one for JEH in some respects in that she was seemingly personally unaffected and he was obviously a huge part of her success / life. BUT in my view, given her profile and influence she will do a lot of good for youngsters if she comes right off the fence and is seen to condemn this in the strongest possible terms. Might not be her natural instinct but it would be the right thing to do.

[PotterHoppo96]

good riddance

[marilyn1]

agreed laps

Which successful coaches exist here??We havent got coaches who can coach the field events
. All our youngsters are off to live,and train in USA. these days!!!!

[SprintRelayFan]

Are you suggesting he shouldn’t have been banned?

[LuckySpikes]

... Presumably awkward for the BBC to bring it up next week, as they hired him!

I don't think they'll mention it. They had a big discussion about Salazar during the 2019 WCh but a) he's Johnny Foreigner and b) his wrongful behaviour was mostly sport-related - mostly doping issues except the weight-shaming of Mary Cain and the mocking of some of his other athletes - and was generally less unsavoury than Minichiello's behaviour (not that I approve, in any way, of what Salazar did.)

[Ladyloz]

Salazar's USADA Ban was only 2 years IIRC. But a separate Safe Sport investigation resulted in the life ban.

I would be surprised if the BBC avoid it completely to be fair. What comments if any Jess will want to make I have no idea.

[Ursus]

I don’t think the BBC / Jess can or should ignore this. The BBC almost certainly won’t.

Hot on the heels of the Charlie Webster Nowhere to Run programme if I had young kids I definitely wouldn’t be sending them anywhere near an athletics track in the Sheffield area. And would definitely be thinking twice about athletics at all. Not that some other sports are any better, mind.