Crisis deepens for UK Athletics after double resignation
And Coates quit following months of turmoil athletes angry at finding out the news via social media
UK Athletics sunk further into crisis last night as leading athletes reacted with fury after finding out only from social media that chief executive Jo Coates and performance director Sara Symington had announced their resignations.
Coates, who began her role only in March 2020, inherited an organisation in a terrible financial state after years of mismanagement.
However, her short reign was marred by frequent criticism from athletes and coaches. Last month, a furious group of Tokyo Olympians had pleaded with World Athletics president Lord Coe to step in and even discussed resigning from their UK Athletics contracts.
It is understood that matters came to a head at Wednesday’s UK Athletics board meeting – the first attended by new chairman Ian Beattie – after which Coates and Symington handed in their resignations.
Symington, a former Team GB cyclist who competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, was criticised for her lack of athletics knowledge after her appointment in August 2020. News of the departure was swiftly followed by confirmation that she would return to her former sport in the newly created role as head of the Olympic and Paralympic Programme for the Great Britain Cycling Team. “I couldn’t be happier – going back to where it all began,” she wrote on social media.
Tom Bosworth, a Team GB Olympic race walker, responded to her tweet by saying “wow”, with a snake emoji. The UK Athletics hierarchy has been slated for its lack of communication with athletes and coaches over crucial decisions in recent months after the worst Olympics performance since 1996. A number of Olympians again voiced their anger last night. Olympic high jump bronze medallist Holly Bradshaw said: “Disappointed to find out such important news over social media.” Olympic long jumper Abigail Irozuru said: “Why are athletes receiving such important news over social media once again? Disappointing.” Bosworth, who was this week dropped from funding, said: “What the hell. These two, who clearly couldn’t grasp our sport, decided I wasn’t worthy of support despite half a decade of overachieving my funding level, quit a week later. UK Sport are you watching these people mess with athletes’ lives?!”
A number of coaches, whose athletes have won multiple Olympic medals between them, were recently informed their hours would be drastically cut. That followed multiple redundancies of respected senior figures.
Coates faced an uphill task to implement changes during her short stint, which unhelpfully coincided with the Covid pandemic. She made it a priority to improve safeguarding issues, but faced resistance over other reforms.
Her senior appointments raised eyebrows among many in the sport, with Coates bringing Symington with her from England Netball. There was also surprise when Christian Malcolm was named head coach ahead of the well-respected Stephen Maguire, prompting Maguire to quit UK Athletics. Malcolm is incredibly well liked within the sport, but many have questioned whether he has the necessary experience after only retiring as a sprinter in 2014.
There is widespread dismay that UK Athletics relinquished one of its two regular Diamond League events while it is without a TV rights deal.
Mark Munro, UK Athletics development director, will take over as interim chief executive for six months while the organisation looks to fill the roles. In a brief statement, Beattie said: “I’d like to thank Jo and Sara for their work during their time at UK Athletics, and I wish them both all the best for the future.”