Australian Olympian fighting lifetime ban over alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor
Figure skater Brendan Kerry was one of Australia’s flagbearers at Beijing 2022
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Australian Olympic figure skater Brendan Kerry has said he will appeal against a life-time ban in the United States for sexual misconduct involving a minor.
The US Center for SafeSport banned Kerry from any events or activities controlled by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) in a ruling on Tuesday.
Kerry denied wrongdoing and said he would contest the ban.
“After hearing nothing from the US Center for SafeSport for almost three years ... I received their decision with no advance warning whatsoever, sanctioning me for alleged violations that I did not commit,” he said in a statement published by Australian media on Thursday.
“That decision is not final and I intend to challenge this suspension and request arbitration before a neutral arbitrator as is my right.”
Kerry, 29, competed at three Winter Olympics and was one of Australia’s two flagbearers at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Games, his last major international competition.
He was a registered coach with US Figure Skating in the 2016-17 season, when the misconduct was alleged to have occurred.
The US Center for SafeSport was established in 2017 with the aim of protecting athletes, particularly minors, from sexual abuse in Olympic sports programmes in the United States.
The Australian Professional Skaters’ Association said it would perform its own investigation.
The association’s president and Kerry’s mother, Monica MacDonald, has also stood down from her position pending the investigation.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments