Uganda suspends athletics coach over sex abuse

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — An official with Uganda's athletics body says a coach who faces charges of sexual harassment has been suspended and is under investigation by Ugandan police.

Beatrice Ayikoru of the Uganda Athletics Federation said Monday that Peter Wemali faces "a range of allegations" related to suspected sexual harassment of female runners who trained under him in eastern Uganda.

She said the decision to suspend Wemali was taken after some athletes complained in an unsigned letter that became the basis for a criminal investigation.

Wemali's alleged violations were first reported by the Ugandan runner Moses Kipsiro, who told a local newspaper last month that the coach urged female runners to have sex or give birth to improve their performance.

It wasn't possible to get a comment from Wemali.