David Weir: I quit GB because coach accused me of deliberately sabotaging our Paralympic hopes

Six-time Paralympic champion David Weir decided never to represent his country again after a leading British Athletics coach allegedly called him a “disgrace” and accused him of intentionally sabotaging a race at last summer’s Paralympics.

Weir, 37, endured a miserable Rio 2016, where he failed to win a medal over five distances and crashed out alongside Britain’s T53/54 relay team in the 4 x 400 metres heats.

Explaining his decision to retire from international duty, Weir on Friday claimed his feud with Jenni Banks, British Athletics’ lead wheelchair coach, had come to a head in explosive fashion in Brazil when she accused him of failing to try during the relay heats – a slur he was unable to accept.

“My set-up all week wasn’t right so at the last minute I changed my gloves but it didn’t work,” explained Weir. “I just didn’t get any power, I couldn’t pick my speed up. I literally came off the track and she [Banks] came running over and accused me of sabotaging the team and doing it on purpose.

“She said I was a disgrace to the country, and told me if I didn’t want to do the relay I should have said.

“To be accused of not putting 100 per cent in during a race made me feel like s--- to be honest.

“There were a few words thrown back and forwards. A lot of the teams saw what went on, a lot of international teams, and they were absolutely disgusted with the way she spoke to me.” 

Further to the claims of verbal abuse, Banks was subject to a British Athletics investigation after the Paralympics when a formal complaint was lodged alleging that she had thrown Weir’s wheelchair across the room in anger following the relay in Rio.

While Weir did not see the chair-throwing incident, he confirmed that the governing body’s decision earlier this month not to uphold the complaint prompted him to retire from international duty.

“When I heard about the chair throwing I laughed,” said Weir. “I thought it was hilarious. We still don’t know if she did it or not. But other athletes saw it – international athletes saw it as well.” 

Banks, who had previously coached Baroness Grey-Thompson, was selected as British Athletics’ lead wheelchair coach over Weir’s own mentor, Jenny Archer, in late 2012 – a decision Weir criticised at the time.

It is believed another investigation into Banks’ conduct is ongoing. Asked why the row with the Australian was so serious as to prompt him to retire just six months out from the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in his home city of London, Weir explained: “Because it’s not just me she’s done it to. It’s other athletes who have complained about her in the past. A few years ago in Australia one of her own athletes complained to me about her.

“I didn’t want it to be a massive atmosphere at the World Championships if she’s still there as a ­national coach. I didn’t think it was fair to the other athletes. I just felt the way she spoke to me… I would never throw a race. It doesn’t matter if I hate the person next to me in the team. I would never, ever throw a race just because I don’t like someone.” 

Banks is in Perth for warm-weather training and declined to comment on any of Weir’s allegations. 

A British Athletics spokesman confirmed there was “a frank ­exchange of views between an athlete and the relay coach” following the relay defeat at Rio 2016. “We can also confirm that we have met with David Weir to receive first hand his feedback on his experiences in Rio, and that we are working to ensure we learn from these experiences ahead of future team events,” she added.

Despite the spat with Banks, Weir insisted he had no issues with British Athletics and would happily work for the organisation in the future, although his more immediate focus is his challenge for a seventh London Marathon title in April.

“It’s the race that I love,” he said. “It’s been in my blood since I was eight years old. It’s my 17th year in a row and every year I get up for doing it.”