Jo Coates and Sara Symington both step down from UK Athletics roles

The UK Athletics chief executive, Jo Coates, has stepped down from her role while UKA performance director Sara Symington has left for a new position with British Cycling on a day of huge upheaval.

“UK Athletics can confirm that Joanna Coates and Sara Symington have given notice from their respective roles, chief executive officer and performance director,” an official statement said.

“Mark Munro, current development director, will take over as interim CEO for a period of six months to provide strategic continuity and leadership to the staff, athletes and coaches and will prioritise working with the board to start the recruitment process for both roles. Further information will follow in due course.”

Shortly after the statement was released, British Cycling announced that Symington had been appointed as their new head of Olympic and Paralympic programmes.

British Cycling performance director, Stephen Park, said: “Sara is renowned for her ability to lead sports teams and deliver results, not to mention her knowledge of Olympic and Paralympic sport, so she is the perfect addition to the Great Britain Cycling Team as we seek to continue our legacy of success at Paris 2024 and beyond.”

The pair’s departures leave UK athletics in disarray, and come just over a month after several British athletes told the World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe, that they were at breaking point with the existing regime.

More to follow

source: theguardian.com