George Skafidas Explained

George Skafidas
Birth Date:	19 August 1971
Birth Place:	(Larissa, Greece)
Occupation:	Sports coach
Years Active:	1991-present

George Skafidas (born Georgios Skafidas, Greek, Modern (1453-);: Γεώργιος Σκαφιδάς; 19 August 1971) is a Greek sports coach who was given a lifetime ban from all sport for committing nine Anti-Doping Rule Violations including possession and trafficking of prohibited substances.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Skafidas moved to England after the 2004 Athens Olympics.^[9] British sprinter Bernice Wilson, whom Skafidas was coaching, was banned from athletics for four years after failing an anti-doping test at the Bedford International Games on 12 June 2011.^[10] On 28 August 2013, the British federation banned Skafidas from holding any UKA license for five years. Two years later, on 23 November 2015, Skafidas was provisionally suspended by Britain's governing body in a decision issued by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and in accordance with IAAF Anti-Doping Rules.^[11] On 16 March 2016, Skafidas received a lifetime ban after admitting nine Anti-Doping Rule Violations all related to his conduct with Wilson who herself had received a second doping ban of 10 months following a failed drugs test in 2015.^{[12] [13] [14]} It was later revealed that Skafidas, who was also Wilson's boyfriend, had been giving her the banned substance clomiphene without her knowledge by replacing her vitamin tablets with the drugs.^{[15] [16] [17]} Despite his lifetime ban, in the summer of 2016 Stafidas was hired as a trainer by Greek basketball club Gymnastikos.^[18] He had coached Olympic-Nees Karyes FC the previous season.^[19] In 2020 he joined fourth-tier football club Pyrros as a trainer.^[20]

Notes and References

1. Web site: UK Anti-Doping v Dr George Skafidas. sportingresolutions.com. 2024-05-10.
2. Web site: Former coach George Skafidas handed life ban from all sport. Athletics Weekly. 2024-05-10.
3. Web site: Former UK Athletics coach handed lifetime ban. SBS News. 2024-05-10.
4. Web site: FORMER UK ATHLETICS COACH GEORGE SKAFIDAS HANDED LIFETIME BAN. Eurosport. 2024-05-10.
5. Web site: Skafidas & Wilson bans mark the end of a long affair. Sports Integrity Initiative. 2024-05-10.
6. Web site: Athletics Coach Dr George Skafidas Receives Lifetime Ban from All Sport. Triathlon World . 2024-05-10.
7. Web site: Δια βίου αποκλεισμός του προπονητή Σκαφιδά στη Μ.Βρετανία – που διαθέτει υπηρεσία καταγγελιών . stivoz.gr. 2024-05-10 . Greek .
8. Web site: Athletics Coach Dr George Skafidas Receives Lifetime Ban from All Sport. UKAD. 2024-05-10.
9. Web site: Skafidas moved to UK after the 2004 Olympics. in.gr. Greek .
10. Web site: Bernice Wilson loses UK Athletics doping ban appeal. BBC Sport. 2024-05-10.
11. Web site: George Skafidas provisionally suspended . espn.co.uk. 16 November 2015 . 20 April 2024.
12. Web site: UKAD confirm lifetime ban for former athletics coach Dr Skafidas. heraldscotland.com. 15 March 2016 .
13. Web site: Former UK Athletics coach George Skafidas given life ban. BBC Sport. 2024-05-09.
14. Web site: Athletics coach banned for life for doping violations after "disturbing and sad" case. Inside the Games. 2024-05-10.
15. Web site: GB athlete Bernice Wilson warns of dangerous relationships with coaches. Sky Sports. 2024-05-10.
16. Web site: Athlete Bernice Wilson admits the drugs she took could have killed her. Evening Standard. 2024-05-10.
17. Web site: A conversation with UKAD Athlete Commission member and sprint coach, Bernice Wilson. UKAD. 2024-05-10.
18. Web site: Gymnastikos, Spanoulis' first club: History returns. eleftheria.gr. 14 July 2016 . Greek .
19. Web site: Nees Karyes merge with Olympic: Liapis the coach, Skafidas the trainer. athleticlarissa.gr. 21 July 2015. Greek .
20. Web site: Coach Skafidas new coach for Pyrros Larissa FC. athleticlarissa.gr. 24 August 2020 . Greek .