Senior athletics official, Tony Sach, a senior official long involved in the sport’s governance, has been permanently banned from officiating at any UK Athletics-sanctioned events. The decision, reached after a thorough independent investigation and disciplinary process, comes in the wake of multiple serious misconduct allegations upheld against him.
The case against Sach, which unfolded over several months, originated from a series of complaints lodged by junior officials and colleagues within the athletics fraternity. These complaints painted a disturbing picture of persistent misconduct, spanning several years and numerous events under the UK Athletics banner. According to the findings of the independent disciplinary panel, Sach was found guilty of nine separate charges. These ranged from sending inappropriate and unsolicited messages to instances of bullying, abuse of authority, aggressive conduct, and the breach of previously imposed suspension conditions.
The panel, in its damning January 2024 ruling, cited a “sustained pattern of behaviour” that not only violated the governing body’s code of conduct but also betrayed the trust placed in him as a senior figure in athletics officiating. Despite having faced warnings and sanctions in the past, Sach was found to have shown no meaningful attempt to reform his behaviour.
According to a press realease by UK Athletics an appeal lodged early this year by Sach against both the misconduct verdict and the lifetime ban was comprehensively rejected. The appeal panel, after reviewing the disciplinary procedures and evidence, concluded that the process had been fair, thorough, and free of bias. It ruled that the disciplinary outcome was neither flawed nor disproportionate, considering the gravity and persistence of Sach’s misconduct over an extended period.
This permanent ban marks one of the most serious disciplinary actions taken under the UK Athletics’ code of conduct in recent memory.
