Olympic legend Michael Johnson described athletics chief Sebastian Coe as ‘full of s***’ not realising he was transmitting live
OLYMPIC legend Michael Johnson described athletics chief Sebastian Coe as “full of s***” — not realising he was transmitting live.
The US track star was chatting to BBC presenter Gabby Logan in what they thought was a break in coverage of the World Championships in Doha.
But their microphones were still broadcasting on a live satellite feed channel being used by the BBC to deliver signal from their studio in Qatar to the UK station.
It is thought the programme's technicians and producers were using the free-to-air channel to test the quality of the broadcast.
He said: “And the thing is… Seb, it’s like, you’re either ignorant, naïve, or full of s***.
“And he’s not ignorant or naïve — he’s full of s***.”
Logan appeared to nod and burst out laughing.
Coe, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, says the games are in Doha to boost the sport in the Middle East.
But the games have been beset with heat-related problems, with collapsed runners stretchered out of the women’s marathon.
Johnson also implied the motivation for the Doha staging was financial — suggesting the organisers got “a boatload of money”.
He said the event had been “extremely expensive” for the teams and added: “You’ve got to hold your marathon at midnight and put athletes under hell.”
The BBC said: ‘This was a private, off-air conversation about the choice of location.”
Last night Lord Coe said: “Putting more money into the pockets of athletes is at the heart of why I am in the sport.”
He refused to comment on Johnson’s remarks.
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