Leon Reid: NI sprinter barred from Commonwealth Games after security risk assessment

Reid (right) claimed Northern Ireland's first athletics medal in 28 years at the 2018 Games

Commonwealth Games organisers have barred Northern Ireland sprinter Leon Reid from competing in Birmingham following a security risk assessment.

2018 Games medallist Reid was found guilty in February of allowing his flat to be used to produce crack cocaine.

The 27-year-old was handed a suspended sentence and ordered to do 220 hours of unpaid work by Bristol Crown Court.

Reid was named in Northern Ireland's team but the Birmingham 2022 organising committee has now denied him entry.

"As with any major event, delivering a safe and secure experience for all involved requires stringent checks and balances being put in place and adhered to," said a Birmingham 2022 spokesperson.

"Birmingham 2022 has worked closely with the National Accreditation Team to vet and check all delegate attendees that are planning to attend the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

"Under this nationally recognised guidance, we made clear the parameters and details of checks that would be carried out on all attending individuals. This information was made clear to all teams and Commonwealth Games Associations well in advance of team selections."

A statement from Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland said it was "disappointed to confirm that track athlete Leon Reid has been denied entry to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games following a security risk assessment".

"Leon had been selected by CGNI and had been entered into the 200m event prior to the 29 June deadline," added the statement.

"Notification was subsequently received from the Birmingham 2022 Organising Committee that he would not be allowed to participate.

"Commonwealth Games NI is currently seeking clarity on any potential appeal mechanism, and the athlete has been offered well-being support as he deals with this news."

Leon Reid won a Commonwealth Games 200m bronze medal for Northern Ireland in 2018

Reid has competed for Ireland at the Olympic Games and the European Championships and Irish governing body Athletics Ireland said in May that it would continue to consider him for selection despite his criminal conviction.

Tokyo Olympic 200m semi-finalist Reid, 27, was one of 18 men charged last year with drugs and firearms offences, all of which he denied.

He was given a suspended sentence and 220 hours of unpaid work in February after being found guilty of allowing his flat in Bristol to be used for the crack cocaine production.

While Reid was nominated by Athletics Northern Ireland for the Birmingham multi-sport event and his selection endorsed by Commonwealth Games Northern Ireland, he faced a further hurdle with the overall organising committee having the power to prevent athletes from competing.

Primarily a 200m specialist, Reid set his personal best of 20.27 in 2018 which was the year he switched international eligibility from Great Britain to Ireland.

After winning his Commonwealth Games medal in April 2018, Reid reached the 200m final at the European Championships later that year in his first international appearance for Ireland.

Reid won Northern Ireland's first athletics medal in 28 years when he claimed an impressive bronze in the 200m four years ago before reaching the semi-finals of last year's delayed Olympics in Tokyo.