Boxing Australia’s national head coach Jamie Pittman has withdrawn from the Olympic Games in Paris after being found to have committed acts of sexual misconduct towards female athletes.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 in the 2004 Games and was a world title challenger as a professional boxer, had his behaviour described by at least one coach and 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 and withdrew his interest to attend the Games in February.
As a professional boxer, Pittman fought 25 times, challenging Felix Sturm for his WBA middleweight world title in Düsseldorf, Germany in 2008, losing 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 who have released their findings in a 19-page document.
Pittman has expressed genuine remorse for the “unease and embarrassment caused by his inadvertent and thoughtless conduct” and has stated his commitment to rectify his behaviour in the future.
Australia boxing coach Jamie Pittman during his career as a professional.Credit: Anthony Johnson
The National Sports Tribunal has called for Pittman to be suspended from all CombatAUS activities for six months from November 9, 2023.
It has 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 that he may lose his employment as a consequence of the findings.
An Australian Olympic Committee spokesman has acknowledged the report and confirmed that Pittman will not travel to Paris.
“The AOC has noted the judgement 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.”
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