Speed skating: Coach takes sudden leave

CALGARY— The head coach of Canada’s long-track speed-skating team is taking a leave of absence less than a month before the Winter Olympics.

Speed Skating Canada says Michael Crowe is on leave “until at least after the Olympic Games.” An internal investigation is under way and there “is currently a process in place,” according to the sport’s national federation.

The organization didn’t offer any more information about what led to the leave.

The 64-year-old Crowe, from Butte, Mont., has been on the long-track team’s coaching staff since 2007 and was named head coach in 2015.

The Olympics open Feb. 9. The long-track team has multiple medal threats, including long-distance specialists Ted-Jan Bloemen and Ivanie Blondon, and sprinters Vincent de Haitre and Alex Boisvert-Lacroix.

The last World Cup event before the Games starts Friday in Erfurt, Germany.