Leon Baptiste, a former gold medallist and athletics coach who had been reported missing, is currently serving a prison sentence in Morocco, BBC Sport has learned.
Baptiste, who coached several top British track athletes in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games and European Championships, lost contact with his athletes and UK Athletics over three months ago. He had sent a brief message in May stating he would be absent from training and recently submitted his resignation citing unspecified ill health.
Contrary to media reports of his disappearance under questionable circumstances, a source from the Moroccan Ministry of Justice confirmed that Baptiste was arrested in Marrakech in May. He has since been convicted and is now held at Al-Oudaya prison, where he is serving a custodial sentence.
"The information published in this regard is inaccurate and does not reflect the facts of the case," the ministry source stated. "The foreign national concerned had not lost contact with his surroundings and was not subject to any disappearance or unexplained absence."
Details regarding the specifics of his conviction or the length of his sentence were not provided, which the ministry source noted is not uncommon within the Moroccan judicial system. The British national is reported to be in good health.
A spokesperson for the Morocco Public Prosecution Office confirmed Baptiste is being held at the local prison in Marrakech following a court judgment against him in connection with his involvement in a criminal case.
The UK Foreign Office acknowledged they are supporting a British national detained in Morocco and are in contact with local authorities.
Baptiste, 41, who won the 200m gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, reportedly traveled to Marrakech with three other former British athletes, all of whom have since returned to the UK. Baptiste's family is understood to be aware of his imprisonment.