UPDATE: Australia's Commonwealth Games chef de mission Steve Moneghetti has confirmed that Athletics Australia head coach Eric Hollingsworth would be sent home from Glasgow after his stinging criticism of sprinter Sally Pearson.
"Athletics Australia withdrew Eric's nomination of head coach ... this led to us revoking his accreditation and we have made arrangements for Eric to travel back to Australia at an appropriate time. He is going home today if we can get some flights arranged," Moneghetti told reporters in Glasgow.
He defended the decision not to send Hollingsworth home sooner and allowed him to conitnue coaching last night at the track while suspended by AA.
"That was my decision and my decision entirely because we had an athlete that was competing in an event that Eric, whlst he is head coach he is the team coach appointed to that event - heptathlon - and that event was continuing and that event had not come to a completion until last night," he said.
"They told us they withdrew his nomination as head coach once they informed us of that that led us to take the action we did."
He said there was "no argy bargy" from Hollingsworth over whether he had breached his agreement and the decision that Moneghetti was taking to send him home.
Late on Wednesday in Glasgow Athletics Australia had initially suspended Hollingsworth, indicating the controversial coach was likely to be sent home from the Commonwealth Games for his extraordinary outburst criticising Pearson just hours before the start of her competition.
Athletics Australia President David Grace QC released a statement condemning Hollingsworth for the fact he said anything, for what he said about Pearson in particular, and for the timing of what he said.
Grace said Hollingsworth had defied specific instruction from chief executive Dallas O’Brien in choosing to issue a media release through a public relations advisor.
He has been suspended without pay by AA pending further action when the board can meet to consider the matter.
Hollingsworth issued a media release criticising Pearson saying she had set a bad example for younger athletes by not attending the team's training camp, as he sought to give his version of events during a rift between the coach and Australia's best athlete which has seen the pair estranged for six months.
Hollingsworth defended the decision to dock Pearson funding for her preparation for the Glasgow games for the fact she did not attend the team’s camp in Gateshead.
“Sally was coming all along until the last minute when she opted to take a race in London. What’s lost here is she’s the team captain and there’s a reasonable expectation she’d be in the camp ahead of something as major as the Commonwealth Games. Her no-show sets a bad example to the entire national team,” he said.
Hollingsworth also rejected allegations that Pearson had been less supported financially for medical services than had been the case in the past.
“We’ve had a team physio travelling with Sally for the past three months, following her around Europe,” said Hollingsworth.
“Since May we’ve provided this service, and there may have been one day or so where there’s been an overlap when we’ve changed over personnel. To say we’ve withdrawn support is factually incorrect and a little disappointing.”
Pearson had refused to speak to Hollingsworth since the at times abrasive coach clashed with Pearson in Sopot, Poland after the World Indoor Championships in March. Hollingsworth was blunt and critical of Pearson's performance when she won silver.
Athletics Australia chose to act unilaterally to suspend Hollingsworth and make a statement condemning his behaviour ahead of any decision by the Australian Commonwealth Games Association on how they would respond to Hollingsworth’s behaviour.
AA recommended to the ACGA in a meeting on Wednesday that Hollingsworth be sent home to Australia for his actions. The ACGA was still considering that recommendation and had yet to make a decision.
“Athletics Australia is bitterly disappointed that Eric Hollingsworth has chosen to make a statement to the media when our focus should be on wholly on supporting our athletes’ performance,” Grace said.
“He acted without the authority of Athletics Australia and in contravention of the specific instructions of the chief executive officer.
“Athletics Australia condemns in the strongest terms his disparaging comments about Sally Pearson and his timing.
“We have therefore suspended Eric Hollingsworth as an employee of Athletics Australia until such time as the Athletics Australia board can convene to consider the matter.
“Action in regards to Eric Hollingsworth’s role on the Commonwealth Games team will be determined by the Australian Commonwealth Association as the body responsible for the team.”
