United Kingdom Athletics is facing a difficult situation in that its recently-hired Chief Executive Zara Hyde Peters has already been ousted before even stepping foot in her office.
Per The Guardian, Hyde Peters reportedly failed to tell her local athletics club about her husband, Mike Peters’ inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Peters had reportedly been barred by the Department of Education in 2012, but was allowed to coach girls as young as 16 at Coventry Godiva Harriers without a UK Athletics license.
This scandal is just the latest blow to UK Athletics, who already lost its Performance Director and Chair within the last 10 months.
“We acknowledge the announcement from UK Athletics regarding Zara Hyde Peters,” a UK Sport spokesman said. “Maintaining the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct is crucial to the integrity of sport.
“We will be seeking a face-to-face meeting with UK Athletics at the earliest opportunity to discuss next steps.”
Tying this ordeal to swimming, British Swimming’s Chief Executive Jack Buckner‘s name has been mentioned in the pool of possible replacements.
Buckner has been in his British Swimming role since 2017. He has deep roots in UK Athletics, as he was a 1987 World Championship bronze medalist, and a European Championships gold medalist in 1986 in Athletics. Buckner had also been the chief executive of British Triathlon since 2014.