PARIS — The Canadian Olympic Committee says it has revoked accreditation from the coach of six-time Olympic medal-winning sprinter Andre De Grasse. The COC says "new information" has come to light about the appropriateness of accrediting Rana Reider, but did not specify the nature of that information.
The organization says Reider was on probation with the U.S. Center for SafeSport until May of this year, and the decision to accredit him was based on the understanding that he had no other suspensions or sanctions against him.
U.K. media outlets have reported the decision to revoke his accreditation is tied to concerns about the "safeguarding" of athletes and allegations of sexual and emotional abuse, and court documents filed in Florida show three women suing Reider there over allegations that include sexual and emotional abuse.
Reider's U.S.-based lawyer says his client has been denied the right to continue coaching in Paris without due process, based on what he calls "years-old claims in a lawsuit by former athletes seeking financial gain."
In court documents filed in May, Reider has denied the allegations contained in the first lawsuit, and filed a counterclaim alleging defamation. The other two claims are listed as having been filed in June and no response has been filed at this time.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2024.
The Canadian Press
