Cipres accused of sexual misconduct

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tony

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While it’s not likely, another defense would be that sometimes photos/videos are posted to an entire story accidentally or sent to multiple recipients rather than just the intended recipient. But I’m sure there’s obviously a context here where there was more lead-up into her specifically receiving the photos that makes it clear she was the intended recipient.

What I am suspicious about is what the fourth party wanted in this- did he want to have something specifically against Cipres, or did he want to see the photos for himself?
 

AngieNikodinovLove

Frangi & Piazza & Paul & Hektor & Theo. Oh My! 😝
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Oh Dear Lord... I have only seen this title and my whole body tightened up...

I have read the article yet and dont know I want .... uggggggg
 

oleada

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While it’s not likely, another defense would be that sometimes photos/videos are posted to an entire story accidentally or sent to multiple recipients rather than just the intended recipient. But I’m sure there’s obviously a context here where there was more lead-up into her specifically receiving the photos that makes it clear she was the intended recipient.

What I am suspicious about is what the fourth party wanted in this- did he want to have something specifically against Cipres, or did he want to see the photos for himself?
Who is to say that Ciprés wasn’t in on that too? It’s a thought.
 

Polaris

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While it’s not likely, another defense would be that sometimes photos/videos are posted to an entire story accidentally or sent to multiple recipients rather than just the intended recipient. But I’m sure there’s obviously a context here where there was more lead-up into her specifically receiving the photos that makes it clear she was the intended recipient.

It can be checked if Cipres sent the pic to multiple recipients or just the girl. Whatever excuses he makes that have a digital basis can be checked.
 

puglover

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If there is evidence, which there appears to be, against Cipres and the coaches that shows they have broken the law and charges were filed against them - would they not be obligated to stay in the US until those are resolved?
 

Viscaro

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Is this why C/J sat out the Grand Prix?
Probably not. This is too serious too only skip the Grand Prix. He had to think it would not come out.

Most likely there was a very toxic boys club atmosphere at that rink. I have seen it happend in environments where women are an overwhelming majority, some men think they are at a harem. Dispenza responsability in this does not lessens Cipres’.
I will be curious to hear if other stuff comes out because it looks like it is not an isolated incident.
 

BaileyCatts

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I hate to ask another stupid question but .... I thought US Safe Sport only had jurisdiction over USFS Federation sanctioned skaters and coaches? If an investigation shows proof of any incidents, they can only suspend or ban skaters/coaches who are USFS sanctioned? So they really can't do anything other than issue a report on skaters/coaches who are from another Federation? Is that correct or do I not understand their purpose correctly?
 

Colonel Green

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Is this why C/J sat out the Grand Prix?
Per the article, this wasn't reported to SafeSport until August of 2019; Vanessa had been announced as doing BOTB in May, so no, I don't think it has anything to do with it.

I hate to ask another stupid question but .... I thought US Safe Sport only had jurisdiction over USFS Federation sanctioned skaters and coaches? If an investigation shows proof of any incidents, they can only suspend or ban skaters/coaches who are USFS sanctioned? So they really can't do anything other than issue a report on skaters/coaches who are from another Federation? Is that correct or do I not understand their purpose correctly?
That's correct. But Zimmerman & Fontana are USFS-sanctioned coaches with a lot of American students, including (evidently) the victim in this case.

SafeSport can't sanction Cipres directly. They can sanction his coaches for not handling the situation.
 

Vagabond

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I hate to ask another stupid question but .... I thought US Safe Sport only had jurisdiction over USFS Federation sanctioned skaters and coaches? If an investigation shows proof of any incidents, they can only suspend or ban skaters/coaches who are USFS sanctioned? So they really can't do anything other than issue a report on skaters/coaches who are from another Federation? Is that correct or do I not understand their purpose correctly?
The complainant is an American. Isn't that enough?
 

feraina

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While it’s not likely, another defense would be that sometimes photos/videos are posted to an entire story accidentally or sent to multiple recipients rather than just the intended recipient. But I’m sure there’s obviously a context here where there was more lead-up into her specifically receiving the photos that makes it clear she was the intended recipient.

What I am suspicious about is what the fourth party wanted in this- did he want to have something specifically against Cipres, or did he want to see the photos for himself?

Yes, that whole thing regarding Dispenza is strange. There's more to that story. It could be that Cipres is the butt of some stupid joke. Although coming through Instagram instead of plain text message narrows the range of possible explanations.

But what the coaches (presumably) did was clearly highly, highly inappropriate. Have they all lost their mind?! Were they so focused on the Olympics that they couldn't think and function properly outside of skating? I can't even fathom how they could have been so clouded in their judgment. Especially since the pressuring lasted weeks, so it wasn't just some momentary lapse of good judgment.

I wonder if this is just a one-off incident with Cipres and the coaches. Hopefully there aren't more victims. If there are more victims, once one goes public, more tend to follow. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
 

clairecloutier

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Per the article, this wasn't reported to SafeSport until August of 2019; Vanessa had been announced as doing BOTB in May, so no, I don't think it has anything to do with it.

Just to add to this—Vanessa was announced for BOTB in May, but at that time, they said they still hoped to do IdF and a later GP. It wasn’t until sometime in late summer that they got crossed out of their GPs. And it was Sept 13 when FFSG announced they would compete only at French Natls and Worlds.
 

rfisher

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It's not just safesport and a ban that's in play here. Cipres could be criminally charged. The minor child's parents don't have to press charges. The police can do that on their own and have apparently already spoken with the family. While Safesport may not have any jurisdiction as it were over Cipres, but the courts do.
 

Debbie S

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Per the article, this wasn't reported to SafeSport until August of 2019; Vanessa had been announced as doing BOTB in May, so no, I don't think it has anything to do with it.
According to the Judge Three Twitter, reports to local authorities and SafeSport were made starting in January 2019.
 

Vagabond

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That was not my question, my question was can they do anything about it if the skater in question is not a USFS Federation member other than issue a report. What punishment can they hand down to anyone who is not sanctioned by the USFS, which Cipres is not?
Ah, I see. It appears not, but if he has assisted his coaches in coaching younger skaters, then maybe they can. The coaches in question, though are all Americans
 

skatfan

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So let's see, Safesport would issue an interim suspension if someone poses potential immediate danger to others in the absence of a suspension. That could possibly be true of Cipres, but probably not the coaches?

According to the Brennan article, Zimmerman is the one who did most of the active pressuring on the girl. I wonder what Fontana's role was. They might just move their coaching base to Italy or France. The French skaters probably wouldn't mind that much at all. The biggest fallout might be for D/F, for whom not only would it be linguistically/culturally/logistically/financially difficult to move to Europe, but since they're Americans, they'll probably get hounded by the American media to answer why they're choosing to stick with their coaches, if they choose to do so... Poor D/F, they just can't catch a break! They're finally, finally showing a glimmer of their initial promise after re-uniting with Zimmerman/Fontana, and now this happens..

Zimmerman/Fontana may not be able to be listed coaches for US Figure Skating after this. We'll have to see.
 

feraina

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Oh, thank you! SafeSport can't investigate Cipres, but can investigate the three coaches (and are doing so). In the meantime, USFSA is not allowed to suspend the coaches while SafeSport investigations are pending.

I guess we'll all have to wait and see what SS decides in the end. "Exposing a minor to porn" is explicitly mentioned as a violation, so Dispenza's coaching career is probably toast; especially as he supposedly said things to the girl that clearly constitute retaliation/threats (according to Brennan). And Zimmerman's career in the US might be similarly toast, as retaliation/threats would seem to apply to him too, plus "covering up abuse." Maybe the only real question mark is Fontana -- has she done enough to also be suspended/banned?
 
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Debbie S

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Zimmerman/Fontana may not be able to be listed coaches for US Figure Skating after this. We'll have to see.
That's correct. Even if a coach is based in another country, in order to coach a USFS skater at any competition, they must clear the background check, carry the PSA insurance, and be green-lighted by USFS. Patrice Lauzon and a few other Montreal dance coaches have done that. If Fontana and Zimmerman were banned by USFS, they would not be eligible for credentialing for a U.S. skater, even at an ISU event.
 

feraina

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Zimmerman/Fontana may not be able to be listed coaches for US Figure Skating after this. We'll have to see.
Ahh, right. So then they would really have to leave the US if they get banned.
Maybe France would only be too happy to host them. The French federation hasn't exactly been a shining example of upstanding moral character over the years... Has the MeToo movement reached France?
 
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MsZem

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Ahh, right. So then they would really have to leave the US if they get banned.
Maybe France would only be too happy to host them. The French federation hasn't exactly been a shining example of upstanding moral character over the years...
I'll wait for SafeSport to finish its investigation on the off-chance that things are not as they seem, but assuming what Brennan reports is accurate, everyone involved in this is done. Nobody will want to be associated with this kind of behavior in the #metoo era. If Fontana's role was minor, she might be able to continue.

I hope the skaters will be able to find good coaching situations, wherever they end up. They're not at fault for any of this.
 

feraina

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Oh dear, the harrassment of the other students of Zimmerman/Fontana has already started according to Judge Three: "Please, please, do not harass or otherwise in engage online with anyone related to the Cipres investigation, ESPECIALLY John and Silvia's other students: this is a difficult and traumatizing situation - and telling them to change coaches is only likely to entrench them anyway." As I feared, it's D/F who are going to be negatively impacted the most relative to what they have done (likely nothing wrong at all). I really feel for them.

JudgeThree also stated: "I’ve been aware of these allegations for months. To ward off the expected questions: Florida police and Department of Children&Families are involved. Mandated reporters, including victims’ therapists&U.S. Figure Skating officials, reported to DCF when they heard the allegations."
 
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