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A prominent race director and coach has been banned from athletics for life after a UK Athletics disciplinary panel found him guilty of multiple breaches of the coaches’ code of conduct, including inappropriate relationships with his athletes and using racist and misogynistic language.
Chris Barnes, who ran the popular Podium 5km series of races, admitted all nine charges against him, which also included bringing the sport into disrepute and using inappropriate language.
Barnes was found to have had an intimate relationship and to have sent a series of explicit images to one athlete between March 2019 and January 2021 while acting as her coach.
He also admitted to having had an intimate relationship with another athlete between February and June 2020, having not told her was married.
Between September 2013 and August 2020, Barnes also admitted he had made inappropriate remarks during conversations over Facebook Messenger. They included remarks such as “it’s simple tomorrow I’ll just blame the pakis for losing our license” and, when discussing whether he would be captain in a football match, saying: “yep in a game against blacks and browns” … “with a brown ref”.
Barnes also admitted to being obsessive over body weight and telling athletes what they could or could not eat. On one occasion he told an athlete they were not allowed to purchase food. This led to an argument in which the athlete was told: “This is why your parents don’t want anything to do with you.”
He pleaded guilty for making comments about one female athlete in August 2022 that included saying: “she’s a fucking heifer” and “she’s blown up”.
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The case was heard under UK Athletics’ Disciplinary Rules and Procedures, following an independent investigation into breaches of the UK Athletics code of conduct for coaches.
UK Athletics confirmed that Barnes has been permanently banned from participating in any capacity in the sport of athletics within Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “This includes any roles involving coaching, the organisation of events, and any other activities governed by the UK Athletics competition rules or the rules of World Athletics,” it added.
UKA’s chief operating officer Tom Solesbury said: “This was a very serious case, and we are satisfied that the outcome reflects the gravity of the behaviour involved. It demonstrates that regardless of your role or position, if you are active in our sport and your conduct falls short of the standards we expect, we will act to address it.
“The vast majority of coaches in our sport uphold the highest standards and make a hugely positive contribution to athletics – and we owe it to them, and to everyone in the sport, to ensure a safe, respectful and supportive environment for all.”
