An English athletics coach and former gold medalist who was thought to be missing is reportedly in prison after sexually assaulting a minor.

Three months ago, Leon Baptiste vanished, and UK Athletics and the sprinters he had been coaching had lost contact with him. This came after he sent a group of athletes a short message saying he wouldn’t be training them ‘for a while,’ and there had been no further communication since.

A brief email was sent to those individuals on behalf of Baptiste on Tuesday informing them that he had resigned from his position due to an unspecified health issue. This came after the media reported he was ‘missing’ and had disappeared in Morocco.

Leon Baptiste Jailed in Morocco as Details Emerge

Action Images / John Sibley

An update on Baptiste has since emerged, and BBC Sport have revealed that the consultant sprinting coach is serving jail time in Morocco. They claim that a source at the Moroccan Ministry of Justice has confirmed that he was arrested in Marrakech back in May.

Baptiste was convicted and has been serving a custodial sentence in Al-Oudaya prison. He was originally sentenced to 10 months, but this was later reduced to eight months on appeal.

The source is quoted as saying: “In relation to the reports concerning the alleged ‘disappearance of Leon Baptiste’ – an English athletics coach reportedly missing in Morocco for more than two months under questionable circumstances – please note that the information published in this regard is inaccurate and does not reflect the facts of the case.”

“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.”

In response to concerns over his health following his email, they claimed that the 41-year-old is “in good health.” Delving further into the reasoning behind his arrest and prison sentence, a spokesperson for the Morocco Public Prosecution Office explained:

“The British national is currently being held at the local prison in Marrakech, where he is serving a custodial sentence following a court judgment against him in connection with his involvement in a criminal case.”

In Morocco, misdemeanors are classified as medium-level offenses and carry sentences of around one to five years. A minor is deemed to be 18 in the northwest African country in which Baptiste is alleged to have carried out his crime.

At the height of his career, Baptiste won two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Olympian Beth Dobbin is among the list of sprinters he has coached since retiring at the age of 28 due to a long-term knee injury.

UK Foreign Office on Baptiste Imprisonment

Action Images / Steven Paston

The UK Foreign Office have since responded to the confirmation of Baptiste’s whereabouts and a spokesperson has stated: “We are supporting a British national who is detained in Morocco and are in contact with the authorities.”

Baptiste is believed to have traveled to Maarkech with three former British athletes, and they have since returned to the UK. None of them have replied to the BBC for comment on the situation while his family are aware of his imprisonment.

Olympic bronze medalist Charlie Dobson and Paralympic silver medalist Zac Shaw were left without a designated coach before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this summer and the European Championships in Birmingham, which concluded just three days ago.

Baptiste had been coaching the pair, but his absence meant that Adam Gemili and Martyn Rooney provided support to the affected athletes. His abrupt departure caused huge disruption for sprinters, with many ‘ill-prepared’ and ‘frustrated.’

BBC Sport claims that after speaking with individuals from British athletics, Baptiste’s confidants, the UK Foreign Office, and Moroccan authorities, they learned his whereabouts were known but being withheld. It was when they spoke to the Moroccan Public Prosecution Office that they were given details of the case.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is set to be handed a luxury problem next season when picking his starting XI at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils were handed the unenviable task of replacing Brazilian superstar Casemiro this summer and have not held back when it comes to investing to beef up midfield options for a 2026/27 campaign that will include Champions League football.

Man Utd set about business early with around £85 million spent on Chelsea star Andrey Santos and Aston Villa man Youri Tielemans. It was no secret that transfer chiefs in the North West wanted a third addition and that is set to come in sought-after Brighton youngster Carlos Baleba.

United are said to be closing in on an agreement with the Seagulls after a verbal £65m offer, and this is how Baleba would slot into the ultimate Man Utd starting XI this season.

Man Utd ultimate starting XI after Carlos Baleba transfer

via Reuters

Senne Lammens has made the starting spot between the sticks his own at Old Trafford. Karl Darlow has arrived from Leeds United and will add competition, but the Belgian will be confident that he can keep the newcomer’s outings limited.

Michael Carrick is set to start the season without the services of Matthijs De Ligt, who has been sidelined since November with a serious back injury. The defender is back on the grass and, when fit again, he partners Harry Maguire at the heart of defence.

Diogo Dalot was consistent at right back last season and Carrick’s next big headache is set to come at left-back. There are question marks over Luke Shaw with links to a new addition – Lewis Hall at Newcastle United heavily rumoured to be a target this summer.

Carrick has a surplus of talent in defensive midfield with the Red Devils going above and beyond to replace the influence lost through the departure of Casemiro. Of the three new arrivals, former Aston Villa man Youri Tielemans has the most experience and looks a shoo-in given the impact he can have all over the pitch.

That’s set to leave Andrey Santos and Baleba squabbling over the other role, although there are enough games across the campaign for both to see plenty of game time. Carrick is clearly a big fan of Baleba and the fact they have offered £65m would hint at a starting berth.

Man Utd have had to do little editing of their attacking options this summer. Bruno Fernandes continues to get better and better, while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were both potent over the back end of last season.

The former Brentford man is likely to start the season up top as Benjamin Sesko completes his recovery from a shin injury picked up against Liverpool in May.

Goalkeeper: Senne Lammens

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Matthijs De Ligt, Luke Shaw

Midfielders: Youri Tielemans, Carlos Baleba, Bruno Fernandes

Attackers: Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha

Michael Owen has predicted how the 2026-27 Premier League table will look in full come next year, and he’s made several bold calls involving Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and a newly-promoted side.

The season gets underway this Friday (August 20th) when defending champions Arsenal host EFL Championship winners Coventry City at the Emirates. While the transfer window remains open until September 3rd, most clubs have done the majority of their business, and squad assessment is the main factor in determining how teams will fare.

There are always twists and turns throughout a 38-game campaign, making it difficult to predict the table. In eight months’ time, Owen might look back and regret one or two of his predictions.

Relegated (20-18)

Only one promoted team suffered relegation last season, as Burnley were sent straight back down alongside West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Owen isn’t optimistic that the latest newcomers will fare as well as Sunderland, who qualified for the Europa League, and Leeds United last term.

The legendary former Liverpool and Manchester United striker reckons Hull City and Ipswich Town will fail to stay up. He said during a segment with the Premier League’s media team: “Sorry Hull… Fulham, you’re going down, unfortunately, you lost your manager… Ipswich, you’re going down too.”

Hull are the bookies’ favorites to finish bottom of the Premier League this season after achieving promotion as play-off winners. The Tigers finished sixth in the Championship, the lowest of all participants in the play-offs, and as such, many feel they lack experience and a strong enough squad to compete under Sergej Jakirovic.

Relegation is also expected from Ipswich, both by Owen and bookmakers, although the Tractor Boys have the benefit of experiencing top-flight football in the 2024-25 campaign. They have a new manager in charge following the appointment of Gary O’Neil as Kieran McKenna’s replacement, and he saved Bournemouth from the drop back in 2022-23.

One of Owen’s most contentious predictions is that Fulham would be one of his three relegated teams. The Cottagers have been in the big time since 2023 and have turned to Alvaro Arbeloa as Marco Silva’s successor off the back of a rather unconvincing spell as Real Madrid interim boss.

Mid-table (17-9)

Moving on to lower and upper mid-table, Owen believes Sunderland ‘will struggle’ but just have enough to save themselves. The Black Cats are headed into a Europa League campaign and midweek football could prove problematic for Regis Le Bris’ side.

Owen has backed Coventry to be one of this season’s surprise packages after an impressive past season in the Championship. Frank Lampard’s transfer chiefs have been busy strengthening his squad, spending over £100 million on players such as Gustavo Hamer and Carl Rushworth.

Losing Oliver Glasner could be an issue for Crystal Palace and the former England frontman reckons they will repeat their 2025-26 finish in 15th. He expects Leeds to do one place better than last term and Bournemouth to drop way down from sixth to 12th after replacing Andoni Iraola with Marco Rose.

Owen thinks Nottingham Forest will be ‘alright’ in 11th while Brighton & Hove Albion are tipped to finish in the middle of the pack. As for another of his former clubs, Newcastle United, he believes they will improve on last season despite losing Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.

Europa/Conference League (8-6)

The biggest shocker is Owen’s prediction for who will claim the Europa League and Conference League football next season. If England is awarded five Champions League spots again, eighth place will qualify for Europe’s third-tier competition, and he has gone with Everton.

David Moyes’ Toffees have been relatively quiet this summer and came off the boil during the second half of last season. It would be a massive achievement for the Merseyside outfit but Owen sees Manchester City and Aston Villa dropping into the Europa League.

Villa, whom Owen claims have ‘overachieved ‘, have lost Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans but replaced them with Yohan Manzambi and Joao Gomes. They are also set to sell Ezri Konsa to Arsenal, which could have a massive impact just days ahead of the season.

As for City, missing out on Champions League football could prove costly for new manager Enzo Maresca. After a poor showing in the Community Shield, some believe history is repeating itself, and the Pep Guardiola-less Citizens are set to nosedive, much like Manchester United in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Title winners and UEFA Champions League

The biggest climbers on Owen’s Premier League predicted table are Tottenham, who avoided the drop on the final day last season. He not only thinks Roberto De Zerbi’s side will be battling in the top half but expects them to land fifth amid spending over £237m on a rebuild that includes the club-record £100m arrival of Sandro Tonali.

Manchester United are backed to remain in the Champions League positions but fall to fourth in Michael Carrick’s first full season as permanent head coach. He is tipping Liverpool to improve under Iraola, despite a lack of business at Anfield, perhaps convinced that Alexander Isak will return to his best.

Owen reckons Chelsea will have a ‘good season’ under Xabi Alonso after finishing 10th last term. He thinks they will be runners-up, and the Blues have focused more on experience this window, with Maxence Lacroix, Jordan Henderson, and Danny Welbeck arriving alongside £117m club-record signing Morgan Rogers.

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

Arsenal will be crowned champions again if Owen’s mystic powers come to fruition and Mikel Arteta’s men looked the real deal in their Community Shield win over City. They have also added Guimaraes to an already star-studded midfield and could finish the window with a marquee attacker amid links with Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen.

Michael Owen’s Predicted 2026-27 Premier League Table