PRESIDENT of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Dr Warren Blake has warned coaches who prey on their athletes that there is no room in the sport for them. Dr Blake issued the warning while addressing an audience at the launch of the 2018 Digicel Grand Prix at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday.

The warning came on the heels of a recent arrest of a “30-year-old St Catherine-based coach” accused of sexually assaulted a female student-athlete in his care.

“Unfortunately, we noted in the media this week that a local coach was accused of abusing a young lady under his charge. I am very distressed that this should happen to our fraternity. We have heard stories all along but we have never had any evidence. And, I would call on people who feel that they are being abused that they need to come forward,” he said, stating that his administration will not tolerate such behaviour.

“When you have young charges in your trust you cannot violate that trust. The JAAA will be taking a no-nonsense approach to this, and we are putting protocols in place,” he said.
“We are also modifying our rules and regulations to remove anyone found guilty of this from the track and field fraternity because track and field will have no place to support anybody who behaves in that fashion. (Sportsmax)