LAURA MUIR’S former athletics coach has been banned for three years for serious misconduct.
Andy Young was found guilty of nine of the 39 charges brought against him.
Andy Young has been hit with a three-year ban[/caption]
He guided Laura Muir to Olympic and world championship medals[/caption]
A four-day hearing in September 2024 reached the conclusion and a UK Athletics (UKA) disciplinary panel has upheld the judgement.
Young guided Muir to Olympic and world championship medals but was handed a five-year coaching ban over the charges, which was later reduced to three years.
They include forcing athletes to compete against medical advice, and putting pressure on stars to the point of manipulation and bullying.
He even left one athlete abandoned on the roadside after an argument led him to speed, with the athlete pleading to be let out of the car.
The panel found Young “made a comment about the athlete’s weight, which upset Athlete G.”
It continued: “Mr Young began to drive very fast such that Athlete G asked to get out of the car”.
“Mr Young stopped and let Athlete G out. He then drove off. Athlete G was obliged to then run to the start of the training route before completing the training run.”
Young placed pressure on athletes to take part in races – against the advice of physios.
He also offered advice on food intake and nutrition despite lacking the necessary qualifications.
Young’s ban has been backdated to April 2023 and he is required to complete training on athlete welfare, medical collaboration, injury management and bullying/harassment.
A statement from UKA read: “Both panels upheld findings of serious misconduct and confirmed that his behaviour fell well below the standards required of a licensed coach.
“The panel concluded that Mr Young had, on multiple occasions, placed performance above athlete welfare, ignored medical advice, and used manipulative and coercive behaviour towards those he coached.
“In its ruling, the panel described his actions as ‘conduct [that] exerted pressure sufficient to vitiate the Athletes’ free will’.
“The panel further criticised his inappropriate interference in nutrition, noting that he offered advice on food intake despite lacking qualifications and in disregard of professional guidance.
“It concluded that these behaviours represented a breach of fundamental coaching duties to ‘place the welfare and safety of the athlete above the development of performance’ and to act with dignity and respect.”
Muir, who won 1500m silver in Tokyo, released a statement.
It reads: “I have chosen to waive my anonymity and confirm my involvement in this case.
“I fully support the decisions reached by both independent panels and I am grateful that the process has been followed through so thoroughly.
“I want to thank those who came forward and those who contributed to the process — it has not been easy, but it was necessary.
“Athletics has always been my passion, and I am pleased to say that I have rediscovered the love of my sport and the enjoyment of training and working within a supportive and positive coaching environment.
“I am now focused on the future, looking forward to the next few years of my career, and putting this difficult chapter firmly behind me.”
