British Athletics has suspended the javelin coach David Parker after allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a female thrower.
Parker, who is a national performance institute coach for throws with British Athletics, is understood to have had a relationship with an athlete who was studying at Loughborough University – where Parker is also the lead throws coach – at the time of the allegations. Under the university’s rules teacher-student relationships are banned.
British Athletics and Loughborough University have confirmed they are “working closely to support any athlete who may be impacted in any way”. The Guardian understands that the thrower is not an elite member of the British team.
Parker was a talented teenage athlete, winning the world junior title in 1998 and later representing England at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
The 37-year-old then moved into coaching and has combined his work at Loughborough with a part-time contract at British Athletics where he works under the head of throws and jumps, Peter Stanley.
Having graduated from Loughborough University with an MSc in Sports Biomechanics in 2005 and worked for the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield as a senior strength and conditioning coach, Parker was highly rated in some quarters – although others felt he was full of himself. This year he was made the British team leader for the European Under-23s Championship in Poland, where the UK finished in second place.
A British Athletics statement read: “British Athletics and Loughborough University can confirm that a coach has been suspended pending an investigation. Both organisations are working closely to support any athlete who may be impacted in any way.” Parker has not yet commented on the allegations.
