Top Spanish Athletics coach facing sexual abuse charges

Spanish athletics coach, Miguel Angel Millan Sagrera was released from court on the island of Tenerife on Thursday facing charges of the sexual abuse of under-age athletes.

The 66-year-old is best known for preparing Antonio Penalver, who won Gold in the decathlon in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

He was arrested at his home on the island on Monday by the National Police and accused of sexually abusing young athletes, with police also taking away Millan Sagrera's computer and various photographs following the search of his property.

Until recently he had been a member of the Technical Committee of the Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA).

Although the details of the case are still to be confirmed, the El Pais newspaper reports it is to be based on the testimony of a 19-year-old athlete who denounced an assault supposedly made 5 years ago when he was just 14.

Initial charges against Millan were dropped earlier in the year due to lack of evidence, but investigations were re-opened in November when 5 more youngsters said they too had suffered abuses at the hands of Millan Sagrera.

This possible case of sexual abuse comes soon after the unveiling of widespread abuse of young football players in England. Endit