Olympic governing body 'knows the truth' behind late figure skater's alleged sexual abuse

[cmk]

I dare say that had Christine Brennen wrote the same story, but it was about the strange neighbor down the street or the store owner in the mall, people would be praising the reporting and demanding justice for the victims.

The front page of the local paper had a picture of the local McDonald's (which is currently being rebuilt) and article about his arrest for sex-related crimes ( 2 14 year old employees, he's 21).

 

[cmk]

The front page of the local paper had a picture of the local McDonald's (which is currently being rebuilt) and article about his arrest for sex-related crimes ( 2 14 year old employees, he's 21).

He was the manager. Computer won't let me edit (internet connection issue, I think I need a new modem ).

 

[Artistic Skaters]

Here is an article discussing one of the newly revised guidelines by SafeSport.

*** Is new SafeSport guideline designed to protect or silence sex abuse victims?
https://www.dailydemocrat.com/2019/...gned-to-protect-or-silence-sex-abuse-victims/

A sense of irony and outrage came over U.S. national team weightlifter Jennyfer Roberts as she read the recently revised U.S. Center for SafeSport guidelines last week.

One section of the revised guidelines in particular jumped out — and infuriated — Roberts.

Under a new revision, persons, including alleged victims or their representatives or advisors, disclosing documents or recordings related to SafeSport investigations or proceedings could be sanctioned for Abuse of Process. Some of those documents covered by the guideline include transcripts or reports based on interviews victims have provided SafeSport. With the new guidelines, victims of alleged sexual abuse or their attorneys, parents or other representatives are prohibited from sharing officials documents related to their cases to tell their stories .

Former Olympic and national team members, athletes’ right advocates and attorneys who have represented hundreds of young athletes who were allegedly sexually abused in interviews this month portrayed the new confidentiality guideline as the latest attempt by embarrassed SafeSport officials to further conceal the center’s widely criticized investigative and adjudication processes.

At a time when the U.S. Olympic Committee created and financed SafeSport is under fire from Capitol Hill and former Olympians, athletes, their advocates and attorneys argue that the new confidentiality guideline protects predators and sends a chilling message to alleged victims who are already skeptical of the competence and effectiveness of SafeSport.

With the revised guideline “athletes’ rights have been diminished, their voices have been diminished within the American sports system,” said Katherine Starr, a former Olympic swimmer and founder of Safe4Athletes, a non-profit foundation that advocates for athletes and helps sports organizations adopt policies and programs to prevent misconduct toward athletes.

“This is harming to an athlete’s voice and takes away their ability to speak up and have the strength they need to fight the system.”

Here is a list with the latest SafeSport changes.
*** U.S. Center For SafeSport Updates Code, Clarifies Confidentiality On Decisions :
https://swimswam.com/u-s-center-for-safesport-updates-code-clarifies-confidentiality-on-decisions/

 

[overedge]

Banning sharing of information with "anyone outside the proceedings" could be problematic to say the least. For example, parents of other athletes within the sport might not be directly involved in a complaint, but certainly would have a reason to know that e.g. a coach or other official is the subject of a complaint.

I hope too that some news organization is willing to take SafeSport to court over these new rules, on the basis that the public has a right to know about potential abuses within sports that are partially supported by taxpayer-funded grants.

 

[nimi]

Banning sharing of information with "anyone outside the proceedings" could be problematic to say the least.

Yeah, I thought this comment by an attorney was interesting (emphasis added):

Attorneys also question the legality of the revised guidelines.

“It is not only illegal but in my view fraudulent in the sense that SafeSport is falsely holding itself out to be an official legislative and/or enforcement branch of government,” said Robert Allard, who has also represented dozens of young athletes who were allegedly abused by their coaches or sports officials. “It does not create law. It does not enforce law. It does not step in the shoes of our penal system. It’s only “power” is to determine whether rights of membership to any national governing body should be negatively affected. Period. The right to privacy or confidentiality only belongs to the alleged victim. Unless the victim demands confidentiality, there simply is no basis for SafeSport to do so. Clearly, this is all part of an ongoing attempt of the USOC, through SafeSport, to avoid public scrutiny and avoid our system of checks and balances.”

https://www.ocregister.com/2019/04/...gned-to-protect-or-silence-sex-abuse-victims/