Banned coach blames ‘feud’

A PROMINENT Tasmanian athletics coach is on a mission to clear his name after receiving a life ban from Athletics Tasmania for “confidential” reasons. Following a Mercury inquiry, an email was sent by Athletics Tasmania to all members on April 29 announcing Scott Goldsmith’s Athletics Tasmania membership had been revoked. In the letter, Athletics Tasmania chair Alec Eiszele said Athletics Australia had cancelled Mr Goldsmith’s coaching accreditation and associated insurance. “This has occurred following an independent investigation in relation to breaches of AT policies, the details of which are confidential,” the letter said. “Athletics Australia has been involved throughout the process, support this decision and have revoked his accreditation on conducting their own investigation. “From the 30 March 2020 Scott is no longer able to engage in activity where he identifies himself as a coach holding Athletics Australia accreditation.” The AT board made the decision after considering a “significant amount of information and after seeking external advice”, Mr Eiszele said. “The AT Board takes the protection of our members very seriously and will not tolerate breaches of our member protection policy,” his letter said. Mr Goldsmith responded with a letter to the presidents of Tasmania’s athletics clubs, saying he feared the vagueness of the announcement of his ban would discredit his character and integrity. He said the cause of his ban was due to a dispute between him and Susan Andrews, who is a Tasmanian Institute of Sport athletics coach, Olympian and Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame inductee. “You have not been informed of the reasons for the ban,” Mr Goldsmith wrote. “I have not engaged in any illegal activity whatsoever in any way and I have been banned from athletics because of ongoing difference of opinion on ethical and moral issues, and a difference of values in managing, running and coaching athletics. “This has resulted in an ongoing dispute between myself and Susan Andrews and the executive officer of Athletics Tasmanian Gabby Steele, neither [of whom] appreciate me questioning certain situations that occur in our sport.” Mr Goldsmith has filed a 17-page complaint against Ms Andrews with the Department of Sport and Recreation. The department was attempting to mediate and was looking at options for his coaching accreditation to be reinstated, he said. A Department of Communities Tasmania spokesman said “initial discussions” had been had with Mr Goldsmith about his concerns and work was being done to address them. Susan Andrews declined to comment.