Olympian gets lifetime ban for sexual harassment policy violation
1984 Olympic bronze medallist Desai Williams is prohibited from attending or participating in Athletics Canada competitions
Former Olympic sprinter and coach Desai Williams, 59, has been permanently banned from attending or participating in Athletics Canada events, and from coaching, it was announced yesterday, due to an incident of sexual harassment alleged to have taken place while he was a coach in 2010. The complainant (an adult at the time) brought the complaint in January of this year, and an investigation was begun in March.
According to a report by CBC Sports, “Williams is barred from participation in any role or attendance at any competition or activity that is organized, convened, held or sanctioned by Athletics Canada or by a member of Athletics Canada, including any affiliated club or association.”
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Williams anchored the 4x100m relay team that won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. (His teammates were Sterling Hinds, Ben Johnson, and Tony Sharpe, former coach of Andre De Grasse). He also competed in the 1988 Olympics, in the relay as well as the 100m final won by Johnson, who failed a doping test and was stripped of his gold medal a few days later. Both men trained at the Scarborough Optimists Track Club with disgraced coach Charlie Francis. (Recent evidence has come to light indicating that Johnson’s lab report was altered, though he admitted to using steroids.) Williams also later admitted to doping. (Williams appears in the top photo, second from left, wearing bib 181.)
No further information is available at this time.