KINGSTON, Jamaica— The “extremely excessive” remuneration package requested by Shanikie Osbourne to continue as coach of five-time Olympic Games gold medalist Elaine Thompson-Herah has been confirmed as the reason the two have parted ways.

A release from Thompson-Herah’s management team, Andi Sports Management, on Wednesday, stated that a breakdown in negotiations over a compensation package resulted in the coach’s contract being terminated.

“The professional separation came about due to a breakdown in negotiations on a compensation package for the services that would be provided by Coach Osbourne,” the release read.

It continued: “The package proposed by the former coach— by any measure of what is the norm for such services— was extremely excessive and without any flexibility to negotiate by the other party. Collectively, we had no choice but to seek the services of another coach”.

News broke earlier this week that Thompson-Herah, who won the last two women’s 100m gold medals at the Olympic Games, had not extended the tenure of Osbourne who guided her training at the end of the last season.

Osbourne who was part of the MVP TC setup when Thompson-Herah trained there, guided the national record holder through the latter part of the season including her participation in the silver medal winning women’s 4x100m relays at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Thompson-Herah had said then that Osbourne was hired on a temporary basis and the situation would be reviewed at the end of the season.

The release also said there was an ongoing search for a coach who would prepare Thompson-Herah for the upcoming season.

“Once our search is complete and a final decision is made we will once again use this medium to officially notify the fans, followers, supporters and the general public. Rest assured that the best interest of Mrs Elaine Thompson-Herah supersedes all other concerns and all decisions will be made to fortify her legacy as one of the World’s premier female athletes,” the release concluded.

-Paul A Reid