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A View of Sexual Abuse in Sports
This information page has been adapted from Blades on Ice's recent report on the June 1999 Professional Skaters Association conference, where the following information was given in a presentation on Physical and Sexual Abuse in Sport.A 1995 survey from the University of Winnipeg revealed that:
- 80% of athletes were aware of sexual abuse and harassment issues
- 30% of athletes said they felt "less than safe"
- 21.8% of athletes surveyed said they experienced sexual intercourse with authority figures. Of those athletes, 8.5% reported it was forced, and 20% said it happened when they were under 16 years of age.
John Mair, head of the United States Olympic Committee's risk management and workplace safety programs, says that athletes most at risk for sexual abuse and harassment include:
- Female athletes, age 16 or younger, who have high athletic
potential or are nearing the high intermediate level of their sport
- Athletes who take frequent trips or relocate frequently to be near
coaches or authority figures
- Athletes engaged in sports with lots of "undress"
Mair also said that factors involved with lack of reporting of physical or sexual abuse among athletes included:
- Athletes being conditioned to follow the coach's direction
- Allegations being turned back on the complainants as "a misunderstanding"
According to the Irish Committee on Sport and Recreation, a study found that victims generally do not complain in sexual or physical abuse situations because:
- Complaints are not encouraged
- Complaints are not acted upon
- Coaches have control over athletes
- Athletes are not aware of the proper complaint procedure