Champion Australian sprinter charged with child sex offence
Queensland police have charged a two-time Australian national sprint champion with a child sex offence.
Jake Doran, 26, was arrested and charged last week with indecent treatment of a child under 16. He was bailed to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on November 5.
Australian sprinter Jake Doran at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Getty
In a statement to nine.com.au, Queensland Police said the alleged offences took place between January 2025 and September 2026.
The Townsville Bulletin reports Doran had been volunteering as a junior coach.
In a statement, Australian Athletics said Doran had “no paid or unpaid role” with the organisation, and he has now been banned from attending any national, state or club event, as well as from attending any training session.
"Australian Athletics is aware that an athlete has been charged with a serious offence in Townsville," a spokesperson said.
"Based on information provided to Australian Athletics, the organisation has imposed a provisional action on the athlete, prohibiting him from attending club, member association or Australian Athletics events, as well as banning him from participating in athletics training.
"The safety and wellbeing of all participants in our sport is paramount, and we take all allegations of this nature very seriously.
"As the matter is now a police matter, Australian Athletics will not be making any further comment."
Doran appeared to have shut down his social media pages on Thursday.
His breakout year came in 2022, when he won two national titles and an Oceania title in the 100m.
He then represented Australia at the world championships in Oregon and then the Birmingham Commonwealth Games – where he made the semi-final of the men’s 100m – just a fortnight apart.
He was all but assured of a maiden Olympic selection for Tokyo 2020, before a series of injury setbacks during the pandemic.
