He Had Not Disappeared in Morocco: Leon Baptiste Was in Prison in Marrakech

A few days ago, we reported on the concern surrounding his absence. His athletes had had no news from him since May, after a brief message in which their coach told them he would be away for “some time.”

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The reality was quite different. A source from Morocco’s Ministry of Justice confirmed to BBC Sport, as reported by Yahoo Sports, that Baptiste had been arrested in Marrakech in May and then sentenced. His sentence, initially set at ten months, was reduced to eight months on appeal. He is being held at Al-Oudaya prison.

Morocco Denies Any Disappearance

Moroccan authorities have therefore disputed reports that the Briton had mysteriously disappeared in Morocco. They say he is in good health and is serving a sentence handed down by the courts. Morocco’s public prosecutor’s office also confirmed the conviction and the nature of the case to BBC Sport.

Baptiste coached several top-level British sprinters, including Olympic medalist Charlie Dobson. His sudden absence had forced other coaches to take over part of his group.

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The British Foreign Office now confirms that it is assisting a British national detained in Morocco and is in contact with the Moroccan authorities. The mysterious disappearance that had worried British athletics for several months was therefore, in reality, an imprisonment in Marrakech.