Vicente Modahl charged with child sex offences and rape
Former Olympic coach Jose Vicente Leiva-Modahl (also known as Vicente Modahl), aged 65, has been charged with multiple serious sexual offences including rape and child sexual abuse.
According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the alleged offences span from 2012 to 2024 and involve one female complainant. The charges include two counts of rape of a child and five counts of sexual assault of a child. In addition to child-related charges, Modahl is also accused of various offences against an adult female, including rape, assault by penetration, causing sexual activity, and controlling and coercive behaviour.
Leiva-Modahl appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. The case is being transferred to Manchester Crown Court because many of the allegations are judged to be too severe to be handled by the magistrates court. He has been granted conditional bail ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for 18 November 2025. Bail conditions include surrendering his passport, abiding by an electronic curfew, not contacting witnesses, and not having unsupervised contact with minors.
Modahl, a Norwegian national and former athletics coach, is the former husband of Diane Modahl, a Commonwealth Games middle-distance runner. The CPS emphasized that while there is sufficient evidence to bring charges, these remain allegations until proven in court.
