3 Reasons UK Athletics Ban on Andy Young Matters for Laura Muir and British Sport

Scottish coach Andy Young, who guided Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie, banned three years by UK Athletics for serious misconduct.

Scottish coach who guided Laura Muir and Jemma Reekie, among others, has been banned for three years after being found guilty of serious misconduct. 

Andy Young, 48, one of Britain’s most high-profile middle-distance coaches, faced a UK Athletics (UKA) disciplinary panel that ruled his behaviour put athletes at risk and breached the standards required of a licensed coach.

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Young, who previously guided Muir to Olympic silver and multiple British records, was charged with 39 counts of misconduct. 

Nine were proven, with seven considered serious. The panel found that he repeatedly placed performance above athlete welfare, ignored medical advice, and engaged in manipulative behaviour towards those under his guidance.

The decision, initially a five-year ban reduced on appeal to three years, has sent shockwaves through the athletics community, with Young eligible to return to coaching in 2026 only if he completes mandatory training in athlete welfare, injury management, and anti-bullying measures.

“I have chosen to waive my anonymity and confirm my involvement in this case. I fully support the decisions reached by both independent panels and I am grateful that the process has been followed through so thoroughly,” said Laura Muir, who ended her long-term coaching relationship with Young last year as per Athletics Weekly.

3. Athlete Welfare at the Heart of the Case

The first reason the case is so significant is the way it highlighted the centrality of athlete welfare. Young was found to have pressured athletes into competing against medical advice, ignoring physiotherapists’ guidance and prioritising results over wellbeing. This, the panel ruled, “exerted pressure sufficient to vitiate the athletes’ free will.”

One particularly troubling charge described Young threatening to exclude athletes from competitions or training if they did not meet his demands. Such behaviour, UKA said, undermined the trust and safety essential in the coach-athlete relationship and crossed the line into coercion.

Jack Buckner, chief executive of UK Athletics, stressed the importance of this ruling. “There is no level of success on the track which can ever justify behaviours that fall so short of the standards required of a UKA licensed coach. This case underlines that performance and medals can never come at the expense of athlete welfare.”

2. Dangerous and Coercive Conduct

The second reason relates to the seriousness of Young’s actions beyond the track. UKA highlighted an alarming incident in which, following a disagreement, Young drove at speed with an athlete in his car before abandoning them at the roadside. The disciplinary panel described this as disregarding the athlete’s safety and wellbeing entirely.

These actions were part of a wider pattern of behaviour described as manipulative and emotionally undermining. Athletes who voiced concerns about injuries were often dismissed, creating what was described as a “toxic and unsafe environment.”

Tom Solesbury, UKA’s chief operating officer, said: “Two independent panels have now confirmed that Andrew Young committed serious misconduct that fell far below the standards required of a UKA licensed coach. While the Appeal Panel reduced the sanction length, the seriousness of the findings remains.”

1. The Future of Coaching in British Athletics

Finally, the case has opened a broader conversation about the culture of coaching in British athletics and what kind of environment athletes deserve. While Young may return to coaching in 2026 after completing mandatory training, the process has already pushed UKA to expand welfare safeguards.

Jack Buckner noted that “significant culture change has already taken place,” pointing to strengthened reporting systems, independent welfare support, and the creation of a new coaching group focused on best practice. UKA insists that athlete welfare now sits firmly at the centre of its performance strategy.

Muir, reflecting on her future, said: “Athletics has always been my passion, and I am pleased to say that I have rediscovered the love of my sport and the enjoyment of training and working within a supportive and positive coaching environment.”

The outcome of this case is likely to define how coaching standards are monitored and enforced in the years ahead, serving as a warning that success cannot come at the expense of the people who make it possible.