Sport code clear on homophobia

Published on 17/06/2012 00:00

I READ with interest your lead article and comment on the issue of homophobic behaviour in sport (3 June).

As one of the three original authors of UK Sports Coaching Code of Conduct, it is important for your readers to understand that the Code is very clear on this and other “abuse and offence” issues.

Anyone involved in sport should be encouraged to report such behaviour to the relevant governing body of sport in Scotland, as they are obliged to take action.

Failure to take action or even failing to acknowledge a complaint should then be reported to Sport Scotland and UK Sport.

As a former Vice Chair of the now defunct Coaches Commission of Scottish Athletics, I had some personal oversight (albeit briefly and some time ago) regarding coaching practice and behaviour as Chair of their Ethics Committee, and we acted in all cases of complaint.

All involved in sport have a clear moral duty here. Certainly coaches need to deal with colleagues who feel that they can ignore their governing body Code of Conduct. They must be removed from coaching if they don’t comply. Parents, teachers, coaches, officials, and volunteers at all levels have a duty here to make sport a happy and enjoyable experience for all.

Dr Hamish Telfer, Sedbergh, Cumbria