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Former England sprinter and athletics coach Leon Baptiste has been sentenced to 10 months in prison in Morocco after being convicted of sexually assaulting a minor.
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Baptiste, 41, had been reported missing after suddenly losing contact with the British athletes he was coaching ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and European Championships.
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Moroccan authorities confirmed that the former Commonwealth champion was arrested in Marrakech in May and is currently serving his sentence in a local prison.
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His unexplained absence disrupted the preparations of several British sprinters, forcing other coaches to step in during a crucial period of the season.
August 19, (THEWILL) — Former Commonwealth champion and British athletics coach Leon Baptiste is serving a 10-month prison sentence in Morocco after being convicted of sexually assaulting a minor.
Baptiste, 41, was reported missing in recent days after more than three months without contact with several of the British athletes he had been coaching.
However, Moroccan authorities have confirmed that the former sprinter was not missing and had been in custody since his arrest in Marrakech in May.
A source within Morocco’s Ministry of Justice told BBC Sport that Baptiste was convicted following a court case and is currently serving his sentence at a prison in the country.
Morocco considers anyone under the age of 18 to be a minor.
The Moroccan Public Prosecution Office also confirmed that the British national was being held following a court judgment connected to a criminal case.
Baptiste’s sudden disappearance had initially caused concern among the athletes he worked with and within British athletics.
In May, he sent a brief message to the group of sprinters under his guidance, informing them that he would be away from training for an unspecified period.
No further explanation was provided at the time.
UK Athletics, where Baptiste worked as a consultant sprint coach, and some of the athletes he coached were reportedly unaware of the circumstances surrounding his absence.
His situation became public after reports emerged over the weekend claiming that he had gone missing while in Morocco.
On Tuesday, the athletes he had been working with received an email sent on Baptiste’s behalf informing them that he was stepping down from his coaching role because of ill health.
The explanation came before Moroccan authorities confirmed that he was actually in prison.
The UK’s Foreign Office has also confirmed that it is providing assistance to a British citizen detained in Morocco and is liaising with local authorities.
Baptiste travelled to Marrakech with three other former British athletes, who have since returned to the United Kingdom. His family are also understood to be aware of his imprisonment.
Impact on British Sprinters
Baptiste’s sudden absence came at an especially important time for several British athletes preparing for major international competitions.
Among those affected were Olympic bronze medallist Charlie Dobson and Paralympic silver medallist Zac Shaw, who were left without their designated coach.
Four-time European champion Adam Gemili and relay coach Martyn Rooney subsequently provided additional support to help the athletes continue their preparations.
However, the disruption reportedly affected the sprinters’ training programmes, with sources describing the situation as frustrating and particularly difficult given the timing of the major championships.
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Baptiste had built a reputation in British athletics both as a competitor and coach.
As an athlete, he won two gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, taking the 200m title and helping England triumph in the 4x100m relay.
He retired from competitive athletics at the age of 28 after persistent knee problems and later moved into coaching.
His work with emerging British sprinters eventually earned him recognition, with Baptiste being named England athletics coach of the year at the Sporting Equals awards in 2023.
His coaching career, however, has now been overshadowed by the criminal conviction in Morocco and his ongoing prison sentence.
UK Athletics has been approached for comment on the situation.
Moroccan authorities have stressed that Baptiste is in good health and remains in custody while serving his 10-month sentence.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
