UK Athletics face stand-off with Adam Gemili and Daryll Neita over American coach Rana Reider

UK Athletics are heading for a stand-off with Adam Gemili and Daryll Neita after telling the leading sprinters to cut ties with American coach Rana Reider over multiple complaints of sexual misconduct

  • Adam Gemili and Daryll Neita were told to cease contact with Rana Reider
  • The coach is facing an investigation by the United States Center for SafeSport 
  • The sprinters have yet to cut ties with the American and jeopardise their funding

UK Athletics are heading for a possible stand-off with two of their leading sprinters over involvement with an American coach who is the subject of multiple complaints of sexual misconduct.

Adam Gemili and Daryll Neita were told by UKA last week to cease contact with Rana Reider or else jeopardise their funding, after being notified by the United States Center for SafeSport that the Florida-based coach is facing an investigation.

Gemili, 28, and Neita, 25, have since been in discussion with UKA about how to proceed. But it is understood that, as of yet, they have not severed ties with the 51-year-old coach.

American coach Rana Reider is the subject of multiple complaints of sexual misconduct

The 28-year-old was told by UKA last week to cease contact with Rana Reider

The 25-year-old is yet to severe ties with the American coach

Sprinters Adam Gemili (left) and Daryll Neita (right) could face a stand-off with UK Athletics

Asked about the situation, interim UKA CEO Mark Munro, who stepped in after Joanna Coates’ resignation last month, said: ‘I can’t give you an answer in terms of what they plan to do. 

‘For us, whether it’s the Rena situation or any other coach, we need to make sure that we are protecting our athletes first and foremost. So we need to make sure that environment is as safe as it needs to be. We will be in a better position in the next couple of weeks to know what they plan to do.’ 

Reider’s lawyer Ryan Stevens confirmed to Sportsmail on Monday that the coach has still not received a notice of allegations from the US Center for SafeSport.

Reider's lawyer confirmed to Sportsmail the coach has still not received a notice of allegations

Reider’s lawyer confirmed to Sportsmail the coach has still not received a notice of allegations

Meanwhile, Munro and the new UKA chair Ian Beattie are resurrecting talks with the BBC over a broadcasting arrangement.

Their previous deal expired last year, with Coates drawing criticism over plans to explore online streaming options rather than swallowing the production costs that would maintain the sport’s terrestrial presence. 

Munro said: ‘We’ve had a great partnership for a long time with the BBC, so hopefully we can get athletics back on the BBC. We will have to have those conversations over the coming weeks.’



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