Edwards dropped for misbehaving

Press, 26 October 1989, Page 36

Edwards dropped for misbehaving

PA London One of Britain’s most promising young athletes has lost his chance of glory at the Commonwealth Games in January after appearing semi-naked on stage with a stripper at a Spanish nightclub. The pole vaulter, Mike Edwards, aged 21, tipped to win a medal for England in Auckland has been dropped from the team in an unprecedented move by the selectors. An Amateur Athletic Association spokesman, Tony Ward said “We are not prepared to go into details of what he actually did in the nightclub but we consider serious breaches of discipline were involved. He was guilty of outrageous behaviour.” Edwards was also found guilty of resorting to “abuse and threats” when told that he was unfit to compete in the World Cup in Barcelona last month.

Ward said Edwards’ behaviour was not acceptable from an international athlete. Witnesses said Edwards was one of three members of the Great Britain team in the nightclub in the redlight dis-

trict of Barcelona two days before he was due to compete in the World Games. They said one of two naked women saw the British party and led Edwards on to the stage undressing him as he did so.

Ward said the ban on Edwards was not permanent but he needed to prove he was not the disruptive influence he had seemed so far. “Several members of the England team had already requested not to be housed in the same block as him in Auckland,” he said.

Edwards said of the nightclub incident: “I had a few beers with mates. That’s all I am going to say.”

He admitted that he had shouted at team officials after being left out of the World Games through injury. “What made me angry was that they didn’t let me know what was going on. I am aggressive but that’s part of being an athlete.” •

Edwards said he would decide in the next few days whether to appeal against the ban.