Eric Hollingsworth, head coach of the Australian athletics team at the Commonwealth Games, has been suspended after publicly criticising team captain and Olympic 100 metre hurdles champion Sally Pearson.
It followed a feud between the duo allegedly dating back to the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Sopot in March.
Hollingsworth was critical of Pearson’s performance when she came only second behind Nia Ali of the United States, and it is thought the athlete has refused to speak to him since.
Earlier today, the English-born coach, a former decathlete who used to train with Daley Thompson, claimed Pearson’s failure to attend the team’s pre-Commonwealth Games camp n Gateshead, and to instead race at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games in London, had set a bad example for the rest of the team.
In a statement released this evening, Athletics Australia (AA) President David Grace condemned Hollingsworth for the fact he said anything, for what he said about Person in particular, and for the timing of what he said.
Grace said Hollingsworth had defied specific instruction from Athletics Australia chief executive Dallas O’Brien in choosing to issue a media release through a public relations adviser.
He has been suspended without pay by AA pending further action when the board can met to consider the matter.
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