Toni Minichiello, former coach of Olympic gold medalist Jessica Ennis-Hill, handed lifetime ban by UK Athletics for alleged sexually inappropriate conduct

By Matt Foster, CNN

Updated 1753 GMT (0153 HKT) August 9, 2022

Toni Minichiello was handed a lifetime ban by UK Athletics.

(CNN)Toni Minichiello, the athletics coach known for helping Jessica Ennis-Hill to gold at the 2012 London Olympics, was handed a lifetime ban by UK Athletics on Tuesday for repeated instances of alleged sexually inappropriate conduct, emotional abuse and bullying.

The 56-year-old was suspended by UK Athletics, the governing body of the sport in the country, in May 2021 ahead of a lengthy investigation into complaints from several female athletes over his alleged behavior during a 15-year period. Minichiello's accusers remain anonymous.«They constitute gross breaches of trust by Mr. Minichiello which have had severe consequences for the mental health and mental wellbeing of the athletes under his charge,» according to the statement released by UK Athletics on its website.'I had PTSD': Culture of abuse in British gymnastics leaves lasting legacy on its victims Minichiello categorically denied the charges made against him and lamented the decision made by UK Athletics, describing the process as «unfair.»Read More«I cannot fully express my disappointment with this decision and with UK Athletics' unfair handling of this process,» Minichiello said in a statement to CNN. «I strongly deny all the charges made against me. I have been a coach for over 30 years and while I have been robust and demanding, I have not behaved inappropriately towards any of my athletes as very many of them would confirm.»Minichiello's statement went on to detail the reasons why he believed the investigation to be unfair, including the panel's alleged failure to provide him with details of how it was being conducted until too late,