Commonwealth 800m silver medallist fined and ordered to undertake athletics community service following incident at BMC meeting

Britain’s Kyle Langford has been handed a £1000 fine and must do a day of community service at a junior athletics meet following a physical altercation with an official at the BMC meeting at his local track in Watford last month.

The Commonwealth 800m silver medallist is said to have issued “immediate apologies” to the official concerned and has escaped suspension following the incident, which came after Langford received a red card for warming up on the track while another race was taking place.

After apologising, Langford – who finished fourth in the 800m at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London – was allowed to run the race and finished fifth in 1:46.76.

In a statement published on Wednesday, UK Athletics said: “Following an incident at the BMC GP Watford on 29 June, a UKA disciplinary investigation has fully reviewed the matters and considered witness accounts of the event including the parties directly involved.

“As a WCP (World Class Programme) funded athlete, Mr Langford is bound by the terms of the WCP agreement which sets the standards in relation to conduct. The actions – which the athlete has readily admitted – fell well below the standard expected. The investigation took into account the immediate apologies issued to the official concerned thereafter.

“The following sanctions will apply: A formal (and final warning) reprimand will be entered upon his record; a disciplinary sanction entry on the UKA website.

“It has also been determined that the following sanctions should also apply to the athlete: £1000 fine, to be donated to charity; one day of athletics community service – to be served assisting officials at an athletics event with junior athletes.”

Yesterday I let myself and my support team down by reacting angrily to an official at the BMC event.
I allowed pre-race tension to get to me too much and my behaviour fell well short of what it should be. pic.twitter.com/0jpA1iSX91

— Kyle langford (@KyleLangford_96) June 30, 2019

In a statement posted on Twitter the day after the incident, Langford said: “Yesterday I let myself and my support team down by reacting angrily to an official at the BMC event. I allowed pre-race tension to get to me too much and my behaviour fell well short of what it should be.

“I have apologised to the official involved and have also followed up in writing, but I know that this wasn’t acceptable and I apologise that I behaved in that way.

“The officials in the UK are amongst the best in the world, and their work at events like the BMC have meant athletes like me have had chance to compete in some brilliant races. Once again, I’m very sorry and will be sure never to repeat this behaviour.”