Jessica Ennis-Hill 'shocked' after ex-coach banned for life for 'sexually inappropriate behaviour'

Jessica Ennis-Hill has detailed her "shock and upset" after the coach who guided her to Olympic glory was banned for sexually inappropriate behaviour.

Disgraced athletics coach Toni Minichiello is understood to have faced a dossier of 530 allegations during a bombshell investigation which sent shockwaves through athletics.

After a panel on Tuesday found 11 claims "proven",  Ennis-Hill,  who won an Olympic and three world heptathlon titles working with him, described the case as "both shocking and upsetting".

"The allegations are awful and although I was never on the receiving end of any sexual physical behaviour, any such inappropriate behaviour or language has no place in any coaching or work environment," she added in a statement on Instagram. "Everyone should feel safe from any form of physical or mental abuse."

Minichiello has been told he will never work in the domestic sport by UK Athletics. BBC sources told The Telegraph the broadcaster will also sever all ties with the former pundit.

Investigators found he touched two women's breasts and told another she could “suck my ****” if she did not continue to train, the panel eventually found. The charges were prompted by complaints from a host of athletes, although The Telegraph understands Ennis-Hill is not one of those involved.

Senior figures in the sport privately expressed relief that the widely-known "sleazeball" would never work in British athletics again. Minichiello can effectively still coach overseas, but UK Athletics is hopeful other national governing bodies will turn their backs on him. Minichiello maintained on Tuesday that he still "strongly" denies "all the charges made against me".

But UK Athletics said the findings, which amount to major breaches of its coach licence terms over a 15-year period, “constitute gross breaches of trust” and are of the “utmost seriousness”. Minichiello, the panel found, was deemed to have engaged in “inappropriate and sometimes aggressive behaviour, bullying and emotional abuse”. As Minichiello’s coaching licence expired during the disciplinary process, he cannot be suspended or subject to a sanction.

However, UK Athletics has decided it will not entertain any future application made by Minichiello, 56, for a coach licence. The 11 proven charges included repeatedly putting two fingers to his mouth and poking his tongue through his lips to mimic oral sex; telling an athlete if she did not continue training, she could “suck my ---” and frequently referring to his penis as his “spicy Italian sausage”.

'Gross breaches of trust'

Minichiello also asked "inappropriate comments about athletes’ relationships and their boyfriends"; asked an athlete if she had ever had sex while doing weights, adding, “does your boyfriend ever come and stick one in you?”; and telling an athlete that she would “never get married”, and “never have kids”. As well as “dry humping” with three athletes from behind, he also touched women's breasts, commented on another athlete’s breasts, and instructed an athlete to sit in a corner with a 'dunce' cone on her head.

As a result, the panel appointed to assess the evidence have concluded the disgraced coach:

• Made inappropriate sexual references and gestures to athletes

• Failed to respect the athletes right to a private life by making intrusive enquiries and personal comments about their personal lives

• Engaged in sexually physical behaviour, namely inappropriate and unwanted touching of athletes to whom he owed a duty of care

• Engaged in inappropriate and sometimes aggressive behaviour, bullying and emotional abuse

The governing body said in response that it “will not entertain any future application made by Mr Minichiello for a UKA coach licence in perpetuity”.

"UKA has considered the matter and decided that these findings are of the utmost seriousness," UK Athletics said. "They amount to a large number of breaches of the UKA Coach Licence Terms over a 15-year period. They constitute gross breaches of trust by Mr Minichiello which have had severe consequences for the mental health and mental wellbeing of the athletes under his charge."

Minichiello started working with Ennis-Hill when she was 13, guiding her to Olympic and three world heptathlon titles during her illustrious career. The ban comes weeks after the 10th anniversary of Super Saturday at London 2012. Alberto Salazar,  who guided Mo Farah to gold, is also serving a four-year doping ban.

Minichiello's behaviour had been brought to the attention of bosses in the past. "He was always known as a bit of a sleazeball who might make inappropriate, or laddish, comments, but nothing beyond that," one source said. He had previously been reprimanded for making an inappropriate comment to an audience member during a coaches conference.

He also received an official warning in 2017 after a blazing row with a woman athlete at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield in December, during which he said: “You’re not allowed on this track, f--- off, f--- off, f--- off.”

However, Minichiello said in a lengthy statement: "I cannot fully express my disappointment with this decision and with UK Athletics’ unfair handling of this process. I strongly deny all the charges made against me.

"I have been a coach for over 30 years and while I have been robust and demanding, I have not behaved inappropriately towards any of my athletes as very many of them would confirm. From the beginning, I cooperated with UK Athletics and the appointed independent investigator. Unfortunately, the investigation was one-sided. For example, I offered to provide UK Athletics with the names and contact details of 80-witnesses, including my then current training group. UK Athletics declined the list of those witnesses."

Campaign group Kyniska Advocacy praised the investigation by UK Athletics. "It is positive to see that policy now being upheld in this case, and in others, where there has been a clear abuse of power and negligence towards the safety and welfare of athletes," a statement said.