British Athletics chiefs have offered support to Bianca Williams after the star sprinter’s distressing altercation with police in London.
In a statement, British Athletics said: ”We are aware of the hugely distressing footage of Bianca Williams and her partner being handcuffed by the police outside their home.
“Our staff have been in touch with her and will be on hand for any support required.”
Williams who is coach by former Olympics Champion, Linford Christie was stopped by police while driving in London and says the car was searched for drugs and weapons.
Williams, the eighth-fastest British woman in history over 200m, was stopped in a vehicle in London whilst travelling with her partner, also an athlete, and her three-month old son.
The pair have accused the Metropolitan Police of racial profiling and acting violently towards them.
Police claim the Mercedes car in which the athletes were travelling was being driven“suspiciously”. They say it was on the wrong side of the road and that the driver sped off when asked to stop.
Williams, 26, countered: “At no point did we drive on the wrong side of the road or speed off. When we were given a ticket to explain what happened driving on the wrong side of the road was not on that. We have no idea where that came from.”
Talking to BBC Five Live she said that her and her partner, Portuguese 400m record holder Ricardo dos Santos, were handcuffed whilst the police searched the car for “drugs and weapons”. None were found.
“The whole ordeal has really shaken me,” added Williams, who won European and Commonwealth relay gold medals alongside Dina Asher-Smith in 2018.
“Police were talking to him (dos Santos) as if he was scum, as if his life didn’t matter.
“We didn’t want to get out of the car because of how their behaviour was. They had batons ready. It was very scary. You worry about your life when the police are acting that way.”
A police statement said: “Officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards have reviewed both footage from social media, and the body-worn video of the officers, and are satisfied that there is no concern around the officers’ conduct.”
DiscernSport