UK Athletics CEO Joanna Coates vows to take a zero tolerance policy’ towards sexual harassment

UK Athletics CEO Joanna Coates has vowed to take a ‘zero tolerance policy’ towards sexual harassment after a study unveiled concerns around attitudes to female coaches in the sport.

A report from Leeds Beckett University, which was commissioned by the Female Coaching Network, pointed to a vast disparity between top-level coaching positions held by men and women, and also detailed instances of sexual harassment towards female coaches from anonymous respondents.

It revealed 207 coaching slots had been filled by men on British international teams at world and European level across the past 10 years, and none by women.

UK Athletics CEO Joanna Coates has vowed to take a ‘zero tolerance policy’ towards sexual harassment 

‘In terms of sexual harassment, there will be a zero tolerance policy,’ Coates told Sportsmail. 

‘We need to change the culture whereby people know they will be taken seriously if they come forward.’

Coates’ appointment last March was received as a progressive step within the sport, and UKA subsequently hired Sara Symington as performance director.

A report from Leeds Beckett University pointed to a vast disparity between top-level coaching positions held by men and women

On the disparity between male and female coaches at the highest levels, Coates said: ‘It is not great for the athletes that they do not have female support — that is not right. 

‘It will change because you have different people leading the organisation making these decisions.

‘I don’t want to say it is about breaking down the old boys’ network because that has been used so often. But it is about having new people in organisations who look at things in different ways, and make different decisions to those previously made.’

Coates’ appointment last March was seen as a progressive step and the UKA subsequently hired Sara Symington as performance director