Daryll Neita accuses UK Athletics of ‘blackmail’ over coach Rana Reider

The Olympic 100m finalist Daryll Neita has accused UK Athletics of “blackmail” after it warned she would lose her lottery funding if she stayed with the coach Rana Reider.

Neita ultimately decided to leave Reider’s training camp in Florida after the Guardian revealed that he was being investigated by US SafeSport after multiple allegations of sexual abuse were made against him.

However two other British athletes, Adam Gemili and Laviai Nislen, decided to stay with Reiner and subsequently lost their right to up to £28,000 a year in lottery funding or medical support. But for Neita, the way it was handled has left a bad taste.

“I didn’t move due to the federation,” she said at the world indoor Championships. “I don’t actually agree with the way they handled the situation, to be honest.

“If you’re worried about the safeguarding of athletes you shouldn’t be blackmailed with funding. I think that’s two completely different things. It kind of felt like the federation just wanted to cover their backs in a way, which I completely understand. I just feel like‚ ‘do you care if I stay? Do you actually care?’”

Neita said she had not seen anything improper first-hand but had decided to leave to protect her reputation. “I don’t just want to be someone who ran fast and got records,” she said. “I want to be someone who is remembered for standing for the right things in life.

“I don’t want to be around controversies that don’t involve me. It’s not just what we do on the track, it’s what we do off the track. It’s who you are as a person and what you’re willing morally to accept.”

UK Athletics responded to Neita’s latest comments by reiterating that it was “committed to ensuring appropriate conduct”.

Neita, who is now training in Italy,