Commonwealth Games: Athletics Australia suspends head coach Eric Hollingsworth indefinitely over criticism of team captain Sally Pearson

Updated

Athletics Australia (AA) has suspended head coach Eric Hollingsworth after he took a swipe at Olympic gold medallist and team captain Sally Pearson.

Hollingsworth was scathing in his criticism of Pearson for her failure to make an appearance at the team's pre-Commonwealth Games camp, saying her absence set a bad example for the rest of the team.

"Sally was coming all along until the last minute when she opted to take a race in London," Hollingsworth said in a statement.

"What's lost here is she's the team captain and there's a reasonable expectation she'd be in the camp ahead of something as major as the Commonwealth Games. Her no-show sets a bad example to the entire national team."

She (Pearson) is the team captain and there's a reasonable expectation she'd be in the camp. Her no-show sets a bad example to the entire national team. Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth

But AA distanced itself from the criticism on Thursday morning (AEST), condemning Hollingsworth for making a statement of this nature, particularly when he should be focusing on supporting the athletes.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Athletics Australia boss explains suspension (ABC News)

"He acted without the authority of Athletics Australia and in contravention of the specific instructions of the chief executive officer," a statement read.

"Athletics Australia condemns in the strongest terms his disparaging comments about Sally Pearson and his timing."

Hollingsworth will remain suspended "until such time as the Athletics Australia board can convene to consider the matter".

AA president David Grace QC told media in Glasgow the AA board was deeply shocked and upset by Hollingsworth's comments and felt they had no alternative but to suspend him from his position as head coach.

"We had discussed his complaints with him and had directed him not to comment to the media," Grace said.

We have taken the view that his position as head coach of Athletics Australia is untenable, and we believe we had no option but to suspend his employment until we return to Australia and conduct a full review. Athletics Australia president David Grace QC

"We would discuss his complaints with him at a later time after the Games concluded.

"Our primary focus, as you would expect, is ensuring that the environment that our athletes have is the optimum environment to focus on the competition.

"We don't need these distractions and the athletes don't need these distractions, and it is very unfortunate that it has happened."

"We believe he may have breached his contract with Athletics Australia. We have taken the view that his position as head coach of Athletics Australia is untenable, and we believe we had no option but to suspend his employment until we return to Australia and conduct a full review."

Pearson-Hollingsworth animosity nothing new

Grace said AA was well aware Hollingsworth and Pearson had a less than stellar relationship.

"We've known of upset between Sally Pearson and Eric Hollingsworth for some time," he said.

"There is no doubt there has been, and we have taken steps to ensure the relationship is managed.

"That has posed no problem coming into Glasgow until these issues have been raised."

Recent reports suggested Pearson took exception to Hollingsworth's comments regarding her performance at the World Indoor Championships in Poland in March of this year, sparking Hollingsworth into a stern rebuttal.

"I asked legitimate questions of her after the race (in Poland), and she didn't like the line I was taking," he said in his statement.

"So via her agent she sought a meeting with Athletics Australia's president, CEO and high performance director, which I was not aware of until the day of, or day before the meeting.

"While I thought at the time it was curious that I wasn't involved in that process in any form, Sally raised her issues, and the powers-that-be found no problems with my actions, and there was no case to answer.

"Subsequently Sally dug her heels in, as is her right, and asked for what is a new 'athlete performance adviser' which is the conduit between the athletes and Athletics Australia.

"I am that person for the bulk of the high performance athletes, but not all, from a work-load point of view. So we re-assigned Sally, which is fine.

"We had a good working relationship for nearly a decade, but she decided my challenging style wasn't what she was looking for, which is her prerogative."

Hollingsworth also took aim at claims from Pearson's camp she received less medical support from AA than in the past.

"We've had a team physio travelling with Sally for the past three months, following her around Europe," he said.

"Since May we've provided this service, and there may have been one day or so where there's been an overlap when we've changed over personnel."

Hollingsworth said he felt compelled to speak out due to what he said was as "a negative and incorrect picture of the events leading up to the Commonwealth Games".

Pearson stated last week that she would address any issues with Hollingsworth after the Games, so as not to disrupt preparations.

The track and field portion of the Games is underway with the final of Pearson's pet 100m hurdles to take place around 7:00am Saturday morning.

Men's 800m finalist Jeff Riseley said he does not expect his captain will be hampered by the furore, but also admitted she was perhaps not the best leader off the track.

"She is fierce," he said after his semi-final.

"She might not have natural leadership skills, but we watch her on the track and respect her. She will do well."

Topics: commonwealth-games, athletics, sport, scotland, united-kingdom

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