Leon Reid: Irish sprinter plans to continue career despite criminal conviction

Irish Olympic sprinter Leon Reid aims to continue his athletics career despite his criminal conviction after being found guilty of allowing his flat to be used to produce crack cocaine.

He got a 21-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and 220 hours unpaid work at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

Reid's agent Derry McVeigh says the athlete, 27, wants to race on.

«He will talk to Athletics Ireland and Athletics Northern Ireland,» said McVeigh.

When contacted by BBC Sport NI on Monday, Athletics Ireland said it was awaiting legal advice on Reid's situation, while Athletics Northern Ireland would not comment at this stage.

«We've obviously been made aware of of it and the matter will be followed up but, at this stage, we're making no comment,» said Athletics NI's interim chief executive Fergus Cooper.

Reid's suspended sentence could rule him out of participation in this year's World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, because of the United States' travel entry rules concerning people with criminal convictions.

A packed summer of international competition includes the Commonwealth Games, where Reid clinched a 200m bronze medal for Northern Ireland in 2018, and the European Championships in Munich.

Asked about the potential of Reid being prevented from competing in Eugene, McVeigh replied: «We're just letting Leon decompress and talk to the governing bodies this week or next.

»We're leaving it with Athletics Ireland to deal with it, with regards to the things that they are responsible for.

«In terms of putting a race calendar together for the year, where he's going to go — whether it's the European Championships and, or the, Commonwealths Games, he is to speak to Athletics Ireland this week and the Commonwealth Games authorities in