- Updated
- Sport
- Boxing
- World Boxing
Boxing coach quits Olympics over sexual misconduct claims
By Jonathan Drennan
Boxing Australia’s national head coach, Jamie Pittman, has withdrawn from the Olympic Games in Paris after being found to have committed acts of sexual misconduct towards female athletes.
Pittman, a former Olympian who represented Australia at the 2004 Games and was a world title challenger as a professional boxer, had his behaviour described by at least one coach and several athletes as “disgusting”, “offensive” and “inappropriate”.
Pittman was appointed as Boxing Australia’s national coach in 2021 and has had responsibility for national under-19 and under-17 teams. He withdrew his interest to attend the Games in February.
Alongside his coaching responsibilities, Pittman held senior positions within the sport including as a member of Boxing Australia’s coaching consultative committee, Indigenous advisory committee, selectors committee and national selection panel.
As a professional boxer, Pittman fought 25 times, challenging Felix Sturm for his WBA middleweight world title in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 2008, when he lost by technical knockout.
Pittman’s withdrawal from the Olympics comes after the Combat Institute of Australia (CombatAUS), acting on behalf of a number of elite boxers, issued a breach notice to the coach which was heard by the National Sports Tribunal. The tribunal released its findings in a 19-page document.
CombatAUS leads the high-performance programs across Olympic combat sports in Australia, which includes boxing.
In November, CombatAUS initially received a complaint from a staff member regarding Pittman’s behaviour on an overseas trip. It subsequently offered the opportunity for athletes and other staff members to record complaints anonymously.
The complaints were focused on Pittman’s behaviour on three overseas trips to Thailand, Germany and Italy.
Among the 11 allegations listed in the National Sports Tribunal determination, the coach is alleged to have conducted a lap dance on an athlete.
Jamie Pittman (right) with Jade North (left) and Mal Meninga in 2023 at a media event for sports governing bodies supporting the Voice.Credit: Getty
“On around 21 October, 2023, while in a gymnasium-based strength and conditioning training
session in Germany and participating in CombatAUS Activity, you gave Athlete C a ‘lap dance’ or
otherwise moved your hips and buttocks suggestively in thrusting sequences while Athlete C was using a stationary machine, saying to Athlete C words to the effect of: ‘Sexual activity improves performance’.”
On another occasion, it is alleged he said to an athlete “how f---ing hot are some of the girls here” about members of the Italian women’s boxing team, and commented “Yummy, yes please” as members of the team walked within earshot.
After receiving the complaints, CombatAus facilitated an independent external investigation and provisionally suspended Pittman from its activities, which included high-performance camps for elite Australian boxers in the lead-up to the Olympics.
After the independent investigation concluded in December, Pittman requested the matter to be referred to the National Sports Tribunal for independent determination, which has subsequently been concluded.
The tribunal has called for Pittman to be suspended from all CombatAUS activities for six months from November 9, 2023.
It also ruled Pittman be reprimanded, provide written apologies to his victims and undergo counselling.
Additionally, the former boxer has been directed to complete approved courses on anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, anti-bullying and anti-sexual misconduct over the next 60 days.
The tribunal also heard that the coach fears he may lose his employment because of the findings.
The tribunal acknowledged Pittman had expressed genuine remorse for the “unease and embarrassment caused by his inadvertent and thoughtless conduct” and had stated his commitment to rectify his behaviour.
Australia boxing coach Jamie Pittman during his career as a professional.Credit: Anthony Johnson
Pittman remains a Boxing Australia employee, although he is not involved with coaching athletes before the Olympics.
“Boxing Australia acknowledges the decision by the National Sports Tribunal and their sanctions handed down,” a spokesperson said.
“Boxing Australia confirms that Mr Pittman was never nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee as a coach for the Paris Olympics.
“Mr Pittman is currently on administration duties which means he is not coaching or working with athletes until further notice. Boxing Australia is currently focused on the team’s preparation for the Paris Games.”
An Australian Olympic Committee spokesman has acknowledged the findings from the tribunal and confirmed Pittman will not travel to Paris.
“The AOC has noted the judgment by the National Sports Tribunal, including the sanctions handed down,” the spokesman said.
“Mr Pittman has voluntarily stood down from the Australian Olympic Committee’s Indigenous Advisory Committee for the immediate future.”
Pittman was contacted by this masthead, but did not comment.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.