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

Marcus Rashford has sent a message to his critics with a response to Jamie Carragher as he looks to get his Manchester United career back on track.

The English forward spent last season on loan at Barcelona, winning the La Liga title with the Catalans and impressing under Hansi Flick. His tally of 14 goals and 15 assists in 49 games wasn’t enough to secure a permanent move to Camp Nou, though, as the Spanish giants opted not to trigger a £26 million buy option.

United’s stance appeared to be that there was no future for Rashford at Old Trafford after an unceremonious departure back in the winter of 2024. He headed to Aston Villa on loan for the second half of that campaign after falling out with former head coach Ruben Amorim.

‘Stop it’ Carragher Hits Out at Neville Over Rashford

Rashford has been given a second chance by Michael Carrick who replaced Amorim in January and knows the player well. They were teammates in the latter stages of the United boss’ playing career and he coached him as an assistant to Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Carrick’s appointment caused a U-turn and Rashford is now back ready for a new Premier League campaign with his boyhood club. That hasn’t stopped the media, pundits and fans from debating whether it’s the right move from both the player and the club to make amends.

Gary Neville brought Rashford’s name up during the latest episode of The Overlap’s Stick to Football. The former United captain asked his colleagues what they made of his return, but this riled up Carragher, who wasn’t interested in discussing it:

After Neville responded, ‘No’ Carragher told him to ‘stop it’ and pointed out that each episode of their podcast seemed to include a segment on Rashford or Trent Alexander-Arnold. The English right-back made a controversial move from Liverpool to Real Madrid last summer.

Their exchange continued when Neville highlighted that Rashford had just returned to United. Carragher said:

Rashford has been a hot topic of discussion in football media throughout the years especially when he clashed with Carrick’s predecessor Amorim. His star power has led to constant scrutiny including within the United fanbase as some have reservations over his reunion with the Red Devils.

Rashford Responds to Carragher and Neville’s Argument

Marty Jean-Louis/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

Carragher’s defence of Rashford didn’t go unnoticed by the United star who thanked the former Liverpool defender for not wanting to delve into the situation regarding his return. He posted a telling message on X:

Rashford broke through United’s youth system before debuting at the age of 18 with a brace against Midtjylland in the UEFA Europa League in February 2016. He has since appeared 426 times for the club, scoring 138 goals and winning the Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Carrick is delighted to have the England international back and in his squad for the new season and is thought to have played an important role in his return. He will be competing with Matheus Cunha at left-wing while could provide backup to Benjamin Sesko up front.