Andy Young, the former coach of Olympic and world championship medallist Laura Muir, has been banned from athletics for three years following serious misconduct, including bullying and coercive behaviour. The ban, imposed by UK Athletics, was backdated to April 2023, meaning Young will be eligible to return to coaching in April 2026.
An independent panel found that Young prioritised performance over athlete welfare, ignored medical advice, and used manipulative tactics. In one incident, he drove at high speed after a disagreement with an athlete, then abandoned them at the roadside. He also forced an athlete to train despite foot pain that later turned out to be a stress fracture.
The panel described Young's behaviour as 'forceful to the point of exerting pressure so severe that it amounted to manipulation or bullying'. It noted that athletes felt they had no choice but to comply with his demands to remain in his training group. Young, who was UK Athletics' performance coach of the year in 2016, also coached Jemma Reekie to fourth place in the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics.
Muir and Reekie parted ways with Young in 2023 after disagreements over his conduct at a training camp in South Africa. Muir waived her anonymity to confirm her involvement in the case, stating she fully supports the panel's decisions and has 'rediscovered the love of my sport'. UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner described the case as 'difficult and sobering', but promised significant cultural changes within the organisation.
