Kiwi Olympics coach handed 10-year ban after complaints probe
Olympics pole vault coach Jeremy McColl has been banned from any involvement in athletics for 10 years for serious misconduct and breach of Athletics New Zealand policies.
McColl, who guided pole vaulter Eliza McCartney to Olympic bronze in 2016, was the subject of a number of complaints raised with Athletics New Zealand in May 2023 by athletes he coached or worked with.
Those complaints were referred to an independent investigator appointed through the Sports and Recreation Complaints and Mediation Service (SRCMS).
The investigation found McColl had acted improperly in a number of ways, including the improper treatment of athletes in the coaching environment (including failure to adequately manage injuries), inappropriate comments to athletes in training sessions, and findings of harassment and of inappropriate communication with athletes through social media and text messages.
Aggravating features of the conduct included communication with athletes that involved inappropriate sexual references and that a number of the athletes were minors.
McColl co-operated with the SRCMS investigation, and following receipt of the report’s finding, tendered his resignation to Athletics New Zealand. He has also agreed it would be inappropriate for him to continue to be involved in the sport.
Athletics New Zealand has accepted his resignation and McColl will be banned from any involvement in athletics in New Zealand for 10 years.
In tendering his resignation, McColl said: “I unreservedly apologise for the harm caused to these athletes and recognise that my conduct was not in line with Athletics NZ’s policies or rules and was harmful and inappropriate.”
Athletics New Zealand said it was aware of reports suggesting McColl may be the subject of a police investigation and it would “co-operate with any investigation undertaken by appropriate authorities, including the police”. Athletics New Zealand apologised to the athletes involved and said new systems have been put in place.