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A top British Olympic high jump coach has been banned for three years for misconduct after accepting that he mocked a para-athlete as \u201cLimp-foot Christie\u201d, described a team doctor as a \u201cfuckwit\u201d and repeatedly used industrial language towards his athletes.<\/p>\n
Fayaaz \u201cFuzz\u201d Caan, who guided Robbie Grabarz to a silver medal<\/a> at the London 2012 Games, also accepted a charge that he told his athletes \u201ca story about a former high jumper who was caught having sex in a lift when the door opened\u201d. However, he denied that it was inappropriate.<\/p>\n Caan, who was also a part-time actor with parts in Coronation Street, Doctors and Spooks, was due to appear at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday after his suspension on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.<\/p>\n However, on Wednesday afternoon UK Athletics<\/a> confirmed that all parties had accepted Caan would receive a backdated three-year sanction against him from 30 June 2021 to 29 June 2024.<\/p>\n The news came after Caan accepted a number of charges against him, including that he had made fun of disabled people by doing an impression where he walked with a limp, held his arm bent and made noises whilst sticking his tongue out. He also agreed that he had called a para-athlete \u201cbad foot gay\u201d and \u201cfat and slow\u201d.<\/p>\n Caan also acknowledged that he used phrases such as \u201cI cannot believe what he is fucking doing\u201d and \u201cI have driven all this fucking way to be here for this fucking idiot\u201d in a loud voice in front of a number of other people, including parents, other athletes and spectators.<\/p>\n On another occasion he told a different athlete: \u201cI don\u2019t give a shit that you are crying, I couldn\u2019t care\u201d and \u201cyour run up is shit why are you doing it like that.\u201d<\/p>\n In an agreed decision released by UK Athletics, Caan accepted that he \u201cinappropriately swore and used industrial language\u201d and that he \u201cfailed to act with dignity and to display courtesy and good manners\u201d.<\/p>\n Caan also accepted that he had described a British Athletics doctor as a \u201cfuckwit\u201d and a team physiotherapist as \u201ca fucking nightmare\u201d who \u201cdoesn\u2019t know shit\u201d. He also said that his line manager \u201cdidn\u2019t have a clue\u201d.<\/p>\n However, he denied saying to an athlete \u201cif you get an eating disorder, I am going to kick you out of the group\u201d or that \u201call Scottish people smell of piss\u201d.<\/p>\n After the verdict Caan, who had been due to coach Morgan Lake and Emily Borthwick in Tokyo, said that he had not been offered sufficient line management support whilst employed by UK Athletics. He also alleged that the organisation \u201cplaced extreme pressure on him to continue producing international medal-winning performances without providing sufficient\/appropriate support\u201d.<\/p>\n In response, UK Athletics said it was taking positive steps to ensure positive cultures were in place. \u201cProducing high-performing athletes should not come at the cost of the emotional or physical health of participants in the sport, including coaches,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Caan\u2019s suspension means another medal-winning coach from London 2012 has been banned, following on from Mo Farah\u2019s former coach, Alberto Salazar<\/a>, and Toni Minichiello, who guided Jessica Ennis to Olympic heptathlon gold. He is now a consultant at the Saudi Olympic Training Centre.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n