In a surprising turn of events, Rana Reider, the American coach of Olympic champions Andre De Grasse and Marcell Jacobs, has been expelled from the Paris Games due to alleged sexual misconduct. The U.S. Center for SafeSport investigated Reider and placed him on a one-year probation, which concluded in May. However, the Canadian Olympic Committee had permitted his involvement in the Summer Games based on the understanding that his probation had ended and he had no other sanctions.
Nevertheless, new information regarding Reider’s continued accreditation by Team Canada surfaced on August 4th. In consultation with Athletics Canada, it was unanimously decided to revoke Reider’s accreditation for the Paris 2024 Games.
The Times of London has reported on a lawsuit filed in Florida, where athletes have accused Reider of misconduct. Reider’s lawyer, Ryan Stevens, refuted these allegations, stating that his client has no current sanctions and that the claims made in the lawsuit are baseless.
As a result of his expulsion, De Grasse, the defending 200-meter champion, will be without his coach during the upcoming semifinals and possibly the final on Wednesday and Thursday. De Grasse finished second in his 200 heat behind Noah Lyles on Monday, securing his spot in the semifinals.
According to Glenroy Gilbert, the head coach for Athletics Canada, De Grasse remains unfazed by the situation and is solely focused on his performance. Despite Reider’s absence, De Grasse is determined to defend his gold medal.
Meanwhile, Jacobs, the Italian sprinter who clinched the 100-meter gold three years ago in Tokyo, finished fifth in the recent 100-meter event and is set to compete in Italy’s 4×100 relay team.
It is worth noting that Reider had previously faced suspension by Athletics Canada when the initial investigation began three years ago. However, De Grasse eventually resumed his training under Reider’s guidance.