Athletics Australia imposes six-month ban on John Steffensen

The Board of Directors of Athletics Australia has determined that sprinter John Steffensen be declared ineligible to compete in international and domestic competition for a period of six months for making statements and engaging in conduct likely to bring the sport of athletics into disrepute contrary to IAAF Rules, Athletics Australia By-laws and the Athletics Australia Team Member Code of Conduct.
 
This decision by the Board of Directors comes after the completion of an exhaustive independent investigation in late 2012 into allegations made by Steffensen around the London Olympic Games. This investigation, which was undertaken with Steffensen’s participation, determined that the athlete’s public allegations through the media of racial discrimination and vilification against him could not be substantiated. Additional public claims by Steffensen that Athletics Australia Chief Executive Officer Dallas O’Brien had misled him were also determined to be unproven.
 
The Board of Directors then determined that it would refer the allegations to an independent tribunal. Steffensen subsequently chose to waive his right to an independent tribunal hearing and therefore, in accordance with Athletics Australia By-Laws and the IAAF Rules, he was deemed to have accepted that he had committed the breaches. The imposition of a penalty then reverted back to the Athletics Australia Board of Directors.
 
The Board of Directors agreed to an extraordinary request from Steffensen to hear his concerns ahead of imposing any sanctions and conducted an hour-long discussion with the athlete via video link late on Wednesday 30 January 2013.
 
The Board took into account Steffensen’s statements and also his previous three-month suspension in 2010 before unanimously determining that a six-month suspension was appropriate considering the seriousness of the breaches.
 
The ban will come into effect immediately, allowing Steffensen to return to competition on 1 August 2013.

Athletics Australia – News