Athletics Canada suspends Ottawa Lions head coach and board chair

Head coach Andy McInnis and chairman Ken Porter of the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club have been suspended from Athletics Canada, its branches and clubs, pending completion of an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment brought against McInnis.

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McInnis was placed on administrative leave by the Ottawa Lions on September 13, 2018 as a result of allegations brought previously. That investigation is still pending. According to an announcement today by Athletics Canada, McInnis was reprimanded twice in 2017 for similar complaints brought by athletes and others in 2016.

Office of the Athletics Canada Commissioner announces interim suspensions to Andy McInnis and Ken Porter https://t.co/uDoGXKZ6QC

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) March 25, 2019

“We’ve invested a lot of time and effort into investigating these complaints, and we’re taking them very seriously,” says Bill MacMackin, president and chair of the board of Athletics Canada, who we reached by telephone this afternoon. “We want to make sure we’re creating the safest environment possible for our athletes.” When asked how many athletes had complained, MacMackin declined to answer.

The announcement also claims that contrary to the terms of his previous suspension or paid leave, McInnis was prohibited from having any contact with staff or athletes from the club, but that he coached Ottawa Lions athletes at a training camp during the last week of December 2018 and the first week of January 2019.

The notice of suspension of Porter states: “Mr. Porter, as Board Chair, and with knowledge that Mr. McInnis attended this training camp and coached Lions Club athletes, has failed to take adequate remedial action concerning this breach of the suspension or administrative leave.”

The announcement claims a decision in the investigations will be made no later than June 30, 2019, but MacMackin says Athletics Canada is “hopeful” they will have a decision within three or four weeks.