UK athletics coach Leon Baptiste jailed in Morocco
Leon Baptiste, a former Commonwealth Games 200m champion, has been jailed in Morocco after being convicted of sexual assault involving a minor. The news ends weeks of uncertainty about the whereabouts of the former British sprinter, who had been working as a consultant sprint coach for UK Athletics. Authorities confirmed that Baptiste is serving a 10-month sentence at Al-Oudaya prison in Marrakech. His family and the UK government are aware of his imprisonment, and he has since resigned from his coaching role.
Match highlights
- Leon Baptiste was taken into custody in Marrakech in May and found guilty, receiving a 10-month custodial sentence.
- The Moroccan Ministry of Justice confirmed his detention and stated he is in good health.
- Baptiste had stopped communicating with his athletes more than three months ago, causing concern among UK Athletics.
- In May, he sent a brief message to his athletes, saying he would be away from sessions “for a while.”
- The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Baptiste.
