World Athletics Championships: Adam Gemili says media coverage 'took its toll' after 200m exit

Britain's Adam Gemili says the media coverage around his coach Rana Reider has "taken its toll" after he failed to qualify for the 200m semi-finals at the World Championships.

"This year I have taken a battering and it's showing," Gemili told BBC Sport.

"I just was not good enough today."

Gemili clocked 20.60 seconds in his heat, meaning he missed out on automatic qualification.

"There has been a lot of bad press around my set-up and me and it's been relentless, every week it's just taken its toll," the 28-year-old said.

"I am old enough now that I should be able to separate it but I haven't really been subject to this amount of press before.

"I'm a lot better than that [time]. Mentally, [it's been] very tough this year to keep my focus and not overstress. I just was not good enough today and that's a shame for me."

The US Centre for SafeSport is investigating multiple complaints of sexual misconduct against Reider, who has not been accredited for the competition at Hayward Field, Eugene.

In November, British athletes were told to "cease all association" with Reider until the investigation ends. At the time, his lawyer said no formal allegations had been made against Reider.

His lawyer Ryan Stevens said at the time it was "unfair to drag Rana's reputation through the mud" before an investigation had happened.

Gemili and Laviai Nielsen were subsequently removed from UK Athletics' World Class Programme after opting to stay with Reider's training group.

Gemili, who is set to compete in the men's relay later this week, called for more safeguarding for athletes to help them cope with media interest.

"I'm just a normal guy. I am not a superstar - I want to run fast every day and enjoy the sport and make people happy," he said.

"It's great to come to a champs and have people cheering my name. I love that feeling but in terms of performance, that is not good enough.

"You can see the effects of it on the track."

Gemili later apologised for his performance and comments, writing on Twitter: "No excuse other than I wasn't good enough. The blame is on me.

"I also shouldn't have made comments about the press when interviewed. I do understand they have a job to do but it's just been a lot to deal [with] and hope you can understand that."

A former UK Athletics employee, Reider trains athletes at the Tumbleweed Track Club in Jacksonville, Florida, having recently moved his training base from the Netherlands.

He has established himself as one of the top track and field coaches in the world having overseen the success of several elite athletes, including Olympic 200m champion Andre de Grasse and four-time triple jump world champion Christian Taylor.

He also currently coaches Americans Marvin Bracy and Trayvon Bromell, who won silver and bronze respectively in the men's 100m on Saturday.

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