&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "UK Athletics coach Leon Baptiste, believed missing, is serving prison term in Morocco")
Leon Baptiste, British Athletics coach, who was not reacheable since his visit to Morocco more than two months ago, has now been found to be lodged in a prison in Marrakech. He was training a number of British athletes for the Commonwealth Games and European Championship before suddenly going missing after his trip to Morocco. Baptiste had won the 200m gold medal at the Commonwealth Games 2010 and was working as consultant sprinting coach with UK Athletics.
What happened to Baptiste in Morocco?
According to the BBC Sport, citing a Moroccan Ministry of Justice source, Baptiste was arrestd in May in Marrakech for sexually assualting a minor. He was subsequently convicted and handed a 10-month prison sentence, which was later reduced to eight months on appeal. He is currently serving his sentence in Al-Oudaya prison.
"The foreign national concerned had not lost contact with his surroundings and was not subject to any disappearance or unexplained absence. He is currently being held at the local prison in Marrakech, where he is serving a custodial sentence following his conviction by the competent judicial authorities in connection with a misdemeanour case," said the source.
On Tuesday (Aug 19), an email was sent to athletes coached by Baptiste in which the jailed consultant resigned citing ill health.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
How did the UK Foreign Office respond?
The UK Foreign Office spokesperon, when asked about Baptiste, said: "We are supporting a British national who is detained in Morocco and are in contact with the authorities."
The coach had travelled to Marrakech with three other former athletes, all of whom have returned to the UK. Baptiste's absence hurt the preparation of British sprinters Olympic bronze medallist Charlie Dobson and Paralympic silver medallist Zac Shaw for the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland and European Championships in Birmingham.
In his absence, European gold medallist Adam Gemili and relay coach Martyn Rooney chipped in to provide assistance.
