LEON REID will be allowed to continue with his athletics career despite having a criminal conviction.
BBC Sport on Sunday reported that Athletics Ireland will continue to pick Reid for selection despite it.
The trackstar was found guilty of allowing his flat in Bristol to be used for the production of crack cocaine and received a suspended sentence in February,as a result.
Reid, was one of 18 men charged last year with drugs and firearms offenses, all of which he denied.
Irish sprinter Leon Reid cleared to continue international career despite conviction
More ⤵️— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) May 15, 2022
The 27-year-old Tokyo Olympian was ordered to do community service as punishment, but always maintained his ambition to remain in athletics.
Now Athletics Ireland have released a statement backing Reid
"Leon Reid... has achieved international carding criteria and will continue to be supported in 2022," said an Athletics Ireland statement.
"A recent Athletics Ireland high-performance panel review of this case also requires additional community service to be completed by Leon.
"Athletics Ireland is committed to the holistic support and development of all our elite athletes. We note Sport Ireland is still reviewing this decision [to fund Reid]."
Bath-born sprinter Reid won bronze in the 200m while representing Northern Ireland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Last year, he represented Ireland at the delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, reaching the 200m semi-final.
He also represented Ireland at the 2018 European Championships, finishing seventh in the 200m final.
