Chris Barnes, former race director of the Podium 5km series, just banned from athletics for life. This extreme measure follows a series of misconduct charges that have reached disturbing felony levels. A UK Athletics disciplinary panel found him guilty on 7 of 8 charges. These ranged from bringing the game into disrepute to making racist and sexually inappropriate comments to athletes.
In August of 2022, BarnesF —a veteran of the U.S. This ignited the case against him, which rapidly went viral. He called her “she’s a fuckin’ heifer” and said “she’s blown up.” BAHNES was very candid about his preoccupation with athletes’ body weight. At one point, he even dictated their food choices, going so far as to bar one athlete from purchasing food.
Barnes’s inappropriate behavior extended beyond verbal comments. He had a romantic relationship with another, male athlete from February through June 2020. Along the way, he failed to mention that he was married. Between March 2019 and January 2021, he transmitted explicit images to this athlete. This pattern of behavior represents a clear pattern of exploitation.
Most concerning was the use of racist language. Via Conversations on Facebook Messenger September 2013 to August 2020 These comments are problematic. He advised, “It’s easy, tomorrow I’ll just say the pakis lost us our license,” and referred to a game as “black and brown,” and as the presence of “a brown ref.” These types of comments have been rightly met with outrage across the athletics community.
Tom Solesbury, a member of the UK Athletics disciplinary panel, remarked on the seriousness of the charge.
“This was a very serious case, and we are satisfied that the outcome reflects the gravity of the behaviour involved.” – Tom Solesbury
Moreover, the panel determined that Barnes’s conduct had a detrimental effect on athletes under his supervision. More insidiously, they terribly undermined the integrity of the sport. His lifetime ban should send a clear message that this type of behavior will not be accepted in athletics.