Former British Athletics Coach Jailed in Morocco — image accompanying Canadian Running's report. Image accompanying Canadian Running’s report; reduced and presented for news commentary with the attributed report. View the complete source report.
Leon Baptiste, a former UKA coach, was arrested in Morocco for sexually assaulting a minor. He is serving a 10-month sentence in a Marrakech prison. Baptiste was reported missing by British media on August 14.
Baptiste traveled to Morocco with three former British athletes in May. While the others returned, he remained. His athletes grew concerned as he missed training sessions and did not respond to messages. Read more racing coverage.
Following an investigation, Baptiste resigned from UKA due to unspecified health issues. However, a Moroccan Ministry of Justice source revealed he was imprisoned for assaulting a minor. His sentence was reduced to eight months after an appeal. Related: Former British Athletics Coach Jailed in Morocco for Assaulting Minor.
This original Runner World brief is based on reporting from Canadian Running. Visit the source for its complete reporting, context and any later corrections.
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What should runners know about Former British Athletics Coach Jailed in Morocco?
Leon Baptiste, a UKA coach, arrested for assaulting a minor and serving a 10-month sentence. Leon Baptiste, a former UKA coach, was arrested in Morocco for sexually assaulting a minor. He is serving a 10-month sentence in a Marrakech prison. Baptiste was reported missing by British media on August 14.
When did Runner World publish this racing brief?
Runner World published this brief on August 21, 2026. The underlying Canadian Running report was dated August 20, 2026.
Where can readers find the complete original report?
This summary is based on reporting from Canadian Running. The attributed source link in the article leads to the publisher’s complete report.
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