Running News Daily

John Babington, Who Coached Bronze Medalist Lynn Jennings, Banned by SafeSport

The prominent coach, who worked in the Boston area from the 1970s to 2013, is accused of sexual misconduct with a minor and physical misconduct.

John Babington, the longtime coach of 1992 Olympic bronze medalist Lynn Jennings and an assistant coach for the 1996 U.S. Olympic team, has been banned by the U.S. Center for Safe Sport. 

Babington is listed in the SafeSport database with “permanent ineligibility” next to his name. The misconduct is described as “sexual misconduct involving a minor” and “physical misconduct.”

His ban is subject to appeal. 

A spokesman for the U.S. Center for SafeSport wrote in an email to Runner’s World that the center does not comment on disciplinary actions “to protect the integrity of its investigative process.” The database will be updated when the period to file an appeal lapses or when a final outcome of arbitration is determined.

It is not known whether Babington, 77, currently does any coaching. He did not respond to a call and message from Runner’s World.

Babington was a coach of the women’s Liberty Athletic Club in Boston during the 1970s, and he was also the coach of cross country and track & field for 26 years at Wellesley College, from 1987 until 2013.

An article by the Boston Globe reported that SafeSport’s investigation concluded that Babington engaged in sexual misconduct with two minor girls and unwanted physical misconduct with a female collegiate athlete he coached. The incidents occurred from the mid-1970s to the 1990s.

“I have acknowledged some merit in some of the allegations in this case and have expressed my regrets that anything occurred,” Babington told the Globe.

Jennings worked with Babington starting in her teen years. In 1978, as a 17-year-old, she ran the Boston Marathon without a number, defying Babington’s wishes. According to a 2012 Runner’s World article about Babington’s coaching accomplishments, after that Boston Marathon, Jennings and Babington stopped working together for a decade. 

They reunited in the late 1980s. Jennings went on to win three world cross-country titles and the bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 1992 Games in Barcelona, where she ran 31:19.89. 

Efforts by Runner’s World to reach Jennings were unsuccessful. 

In an email, a Wellesley College spokesperson wrote, “Wellesley was unaware of this decision until this inquiry and does not know if Wellesley students were part of the complaint. We were aware that SafeSport was investigating John Babington, who retired from coaching at the College in 2013.”