A leading athletics coach who has overseen Olympic and world champions is reportedly facing an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
Rana Reider of Tumbleweed Track Club in Jacksonville, Florida, has witnessed his athletes scoop a plethora of international medals, with Andre de Grasse winning 200 m gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics under his tutelage.
However, the 51-year-old - who also coaches British pair Adam Gemili and Daryll Neita - is said to have been accused of 'multiple complaints' of sexual misconduct, with the US Center for SafeSport set to conduct an investigation into his behaviour, according to a report by The Guardian.
Reider's lawyer Ryan Stephens denied knowledge of the investigation, telling the publication: "SafeSport hasn't issued a notice of allegations to Rana. The suspicious timing and motives attached to these unproven attacks on Rana's reputation need to be fully investigated and vetted, and they haven't been."
UK Athletics have also advised Gemili and Neita to stop working with Reider, saying: "As part of UK Athletics commitment to ensuring appropriate conduct is consistent across all areas without any exceptions, we completed additional due diligence where issues have been raised about the support personnel of UK athletes," in a statement to The Guardian.
"Following information from the US Center for SafeSport that multiple complaints of sexual misconduct have been made against coach Rana Reider and that an investigation in the US is imminent, UK Athletics has informed UK athletes currently being coached by him to cease all association until the conclusion of this process."
Gemili has won world championship gold in the 4x100 m relay while under Reider's wing, and Neita boasts a Tokyo 2020 Olympics bronze medal from the same event.
Ben Knapton
