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UK Athletics has announced that coach and event organiser Chris Barnes has been charged \u201cwith a number of breaches of UKA\u2019s Code of Conduct for Coaches\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Barnes founded the popular Podium 5k event series in 2014 and it has featured a number of record-breaking performances from high-profile athletes over the years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The UKA statement, released on Monday (April 14), read: \u201cThe allegations concern inappropriate relationships with athletes, the sending of explicit images to athletes and a number of other behaviours which, if proven, separately and together amount to abuses of the athlete\/coach relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe is also charged with bringing the sport of athletics into disrepute and failing to act with dignity, courtesy and good manners towards other members of the athletics family.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe matter will now proceed to a disciplinary hearing before the appropriate UKA Panel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Barnes declined to comment.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00bb\u00a0<\/b>Subscribe to AW magazine\u00a0here<\/span><\/a>, check out our new podcast\u00a0here<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or sign up to our digital archive of back issues from 1945 to the present day\u00a0here<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n