Sexual Abuse In Sport

Coaching is and can be rewarding for many volunteers, but it can also come with facets of criticism from individuals, parental groups or executive members, but regardless it’s rewarding for everyone.

Now we are hearing about this within the speedskating world as  Olympic short track speed skating champion Suk-hee has filed a complaint against her former coach regarding an alleged sexual assault.

She (Shim) has made accusations about her former coach Cho Jae-beom of raping and sexually molesting her multiple times .

It’s reported by the Yonhap News Agency that it all dates back to 2014 when she was a high school student, according to a report submitted to the local police.

Lim Sang-hyuk (her lawyer) told SBS News “She has been repeatedly subjected to these crimes since she was a teenager and the depth of her traumatic wounds is beyond description.”

Shim maintains that Cho’s alleged sexual abuse continued to take place until around two months prior to the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeognchang.

In a statement by Cho’s lawyers, he emphatically denies the allegations of sexual assault, but regardless he (Cho) was sentenced to 10 months in prison this past September.

This was for physically assaulting four (4) skaters, which included Shim all taking place over a seven-year period dating back to 2011 up to and including 2018.

Korean Sport Olympic Committee President Lee offered a sincere apology as he admitted there had been “major flaws” in the existing system all of which are designed to protect athletes, but regardless of pledging to introduce preventative measures there has been a strong form of increased criticism.

Kim Young-joo, a politician from the Democratic Party, has claimed South Korean National Federations have been disciplined for 124 cases of assault and abuse over the past five years.

Former speed skating coach Yeo Jun-hyung, head of a group called Solidarity for Young Skaters, revealed they had received reports of six cases of sexual violence in the sport.

He has called for KSOC officials to resign as a result of the cases.

Lee offered another apology today in Seoul at a KSOC board meeting, according to Yonhap, before unveiling measures designed to protect athletes.

It was reported that the KSOC will invite independent experts to investigate sexual abuse cases with a pledge for full transparency.

A separate investigation into the Korea Skating Union is also expected to be carried out by the KSOC.

The official claimed officials found to have attempted to cover up cases would be punished, with their federation facing the threat of suspension.

The introduction of a Human Rights Centre at the National Training Centre to protect athletes, which would include a female vice-head position, has also been suggested alongside a pledge for more female coaches.

The South Korean President stated “violence or extreme pressure on athletes could not be justified as the Athletes are to play their sports to fulfil their own goals or improve their skills on their own.”

This is all according to Yonhap