Ex-UK Athletics chief gets three-year ban for racist remarks against black people - what he said

A former UK Athletics director has been banned from holding an official position in the sport for three years and his licence revoked over his remark that allegedly claims black people are good sprinters “because they have to get away from their burglaries”.

The Times reported Julian Starkey, 62, allegedly made the comments at a Sporting Equals Leadership in November 2022. He is accused of saying: “Usually when athletes start to be more specific in events, most black athletes tend to edge towards sprinting and hurdling…the blacks are all good at running because they have to get away from their burglaries.”