Keeping Track of Criminal Cases & SafeSport Suspensions in Skating

[BrightSkates]

You could just... not?

I'm on this thread for staying on top of the news regarding safesport/other violations including taking steps to help and support.
Not excited about about how users are on here victim blaming/not caring because the skater isn't 'famous' enough or other instances like that they are too old to be SA, or it's expected that they were because they were at a party.

Of course alcohol, drugs, etc. will always be a factor, even outside of skating. But the skaters are training 24/7 and they have one chance at these banquets to be a normal teenager/young adult. It's absurd to think that they shouldn't partake in these events.

The perpetuator is the perpetuator - end of story.

 

[Angelskates]

The vast majority of people are capable of drinking responsibly and don't suddenly become sexual predators just because they had a drink or two, but you want to tell a 30-something pairs skater or ice dancer who might like to have a glass of wine with a nice meal to celebrate after their event is over that they can't? And if you ban alcohol at the closing ceremony what you'll end up with is everyone who is of legal drinking age going elsewhere to celebrate, and that includes the officials.

How about instead focusing on the culture that leads some boys and men to believe that their urges take priority.

Can’t we do both?

 

[MacMadame]

How about instead focusing on the culture that leads some boys and men to believe that their urges take priority.

Can’t we do both?

Exactly.

And the attitude that these people work hard and so deserve to let loose is part of the problem IMO. Most of these parties are pretty insane and well past what most teenagers do to relax and let off steam.

or it's expected that they were because they were at a party.

Nobody said that.

 

[On My Own]

I'm on this thread for staying on top of the news regarding safesport/other violations including taking steps to help and support.

Just skip past the offending posts, then.

Of course alcohol, drugs, etc. will always be a factor, even outside of skating. But the skaters are training 24/7 and they have one chance at these banquets to be a normal teenager/young adult.

And...? Honestly, if people can't see the obvious problem here, then I simply have to say that, well, I don't care either. It's not my circus. Skating is not big here, it will never be, and I am actively praying it never is.

I am more than a little fed up of the stupid comments about how the culture is the problem or the rapist is the problem. Well okay, change the culture (while making sure to take absolutely not even the basic steps to be fixing that culture, or giving any remotely reasonable solution yourselves), and ask the rapists to not rape, I guess. I'm sure it will work.

It's absurd to think that they shouldn't partake in these events.

Yes, as absurd as the notion as someone getting punished for taking alcohol to their rooms. It was just for 'fun'.

 

[VGThuy]

Just ruminating on a few thoughts, so forgive my incoherence. It seems we’re talking about a bunch of different scenarios that will have different responsible parties.

The overarching issue is that skating culture is international and balancing different ideas of normal behavior when it comes to mixed-aged social groups where there may be divergent ideas of socially acceptable behavior. I would like to say there are some universally accepted actions that would be considered unacceptable but even those get clouded with ideas of severity of action and whose “fault” it was.

The thoughts below are probably impossible to implement but many other organizations seem to do a much better job that figure skating has in figuring this out. Of course, we’re fighting against a whole culture here so that’ll make it harder to adopt some of these common sense approaches.

First…I think the ISU, as the overarching institution, needs to put their foot down and implement and enforce a code of conduct expected during any officially-sanctioned event, including competitions, social events, etc. The purpose is to adopt best practices to protect the athletes. They also need to make it clear that they will dole out punishments when officials from federations fail in their duty to protect the athletes in their official capacity. I believe that the ISU can take the lead in how we shape attitudes towards sexual assault or other kinds of inappropriate behavior that puts the athletes of all ages in precarious situations, and difference in culture or no, there will be suspensions and other punishments to the federation if they failed to do right by their athletes by following this code. This means that the ISU can still hold banquets but they have to implement strong rules about how they should run them, like making sure minors have an accompanied adult, not serving alcohol, punishing participants who break rules at official social events, etc.

The thing about parties outside of the official ISU banquets are things that should be dealt with by the federations who are sending the athletes to competitions. I think so long as federations are assigning non-adult competitors to competitions, they have a responsible to ensure they are safe and have chaperones they can trust. They also need to make sure they are not negligent in their duties in ensuring the safety of their athletes, which will apply to all of their athletes.

The above won’t solve all the problems, but it’ll help get people conditioned to accepting new attitudes regarding the type of environment we’re allowing.

The athletes above age will still have options to blow off steam and whatever on their own time and at their own risk/judgment like the rest of us who have to rely on the criminal justice system when something goes wrong… that’s another can of worms I don’t have the energy to get into. They can still have their own age-appropriate private parties but they don’t have to be sanctioned by any official org representing a federation or the ISU. Not to mention that those throwing those private parties they’re not entitled to have young skaters who shouldn’t be there attending.

Now, there’s still the issue that one can be 18 and hanging out with an older coach, etc. This is where the whole code of conduct should really be beaten down as it’ll help teach a culture that has such blurred lines, as @Willin mentioned, to start clearing things up and building up proper boundaries.

 

[BittyBug]

And the attitude that these people work hard and so deserve to let loose is part of the problem IMO. Most of these parties are pretty insane and well past what most teenagers do to relax and let off steam.

You are conflating several entirely different issues. One is the use of alcohol by teenagers, which in most countries is not legal, and the perfectly legal and responsible use of alcohol by an adult. My example was a 30-something skater having a glass of wine with their dinner after their event is over but while the competition is still underway. You proposed to ban the consumption of alcohol during the competition, which would deny this athlete the ability to enjoy what in many cultures is a perfectly normal celebration gesture. Having a glass of wine with dinner is hardly "letting loose."

I like @VGThuy's proposal, which is to focus on the behavior, rather than an agent that may be a catalyst for some but which the vast majority of people handle responsibly.

 

[Karen-W]

You are conflating several entirely different issues. One is the use of alcohol by teenagers, which in most countries is not legal, and the perfectly legal and responsible use of alcohol by an adult. My example was a 30-something skater having a glass of wine with their dinner after their event is over but while the competition is still underway. You proposed to ban the consumption of alcohol during the competition, which would deny this athlete the ability to enjoy what in many cultures is a perfectly normal celebration gesture. Having a glass of wine with dinner is hardly "letting loose."

I like @VGThuy's proposal, which is to focus on the behavior, rather than an agent that may be a catalyst for some but which the vast majority of people handle responsibly.

And, speaking as an adult chaperone for youth-oriented events and activities, I see no problem with banning the consumption of alcohol, even as casually as a glass of wine with dinner. There are plenty of ways to celebrate or blow off steam, etc, without alcohol, even the glass of wine over dinner or joining old friends to catch up over a drink at the hotel bar. No one NEEDS alcohol to celebrate.

 

[BittyBug]

And, speaking as an adult chaperone for youth-oriented events and activities, I see no problem with banning the consumption of alcohol, even as casually as a glass of wine with dinner. There are plenty of ways to celebrate or blow off steam, etc, without alcohol, even the glass of wine over dinner or joining old friends to catch up over a drink at the hotel bar. No one NEEDS alcohol to celebrate.

There are a lot of things that people don't need but we allow them anyway, and I'm not yet persuaded that an adult of legal drinking age should be denied the right to consume it just because a few people abuse it. It seems like quite an overreach to me.

 

[Private Citizen]

There are a lot of things that people don't need but we allow them anyway, and I'm not yet persuaded that an adult of legal drinking age should be denied the right to consume it just because a few people abuse it. It seems like quite an overreach to me.

I agree. With the new age limits for seniors, most skaters are over the legal drinking age in most of the world. I don't see any reason to ban alcohol entirely.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I think the partying with teenagers and the issue of assault are two separate issues. Even if no one was ever assaulted at a party, it's still inappropriate for adults to ever party with teenagers.

Possibly due to living sheltered lives, spending all of their lives at the rink, some skaters seem to really have no sense of how to appropriately be an adult. I think a lot of skaters need a lot more education on appropriate boundaries between children and adults.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

According to Brennan, Nik Sorenson has been banned for 6 years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841530679638536657

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

According to Brennan, Nik Sorenson has been banned for 6 years.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841530679638536657

Oh wow, OK. This just happened?

 

[kwanfan1818]

I wonder how quickly he will appeal. Is there a stay/stay-equivalent while he appeals, ie, whether or not he can compete in Shanghai, for example.

I assume IAM will do nothing until appeals are exhausted.

 

[PRlady]

She just posted it.

What a sad ending to what was a decent career in ice dance. He completely deserves it, of course, but the corroboration of what he did is really depressing.

 

[Rukia]

good

 

[made_in_canada]

Oh wow, OK. This just happened?

Yep. Issued today. Can’t wait to see how Skate Canada (mis)handles this

 

[ChelleC]

It's about time!

 

[litenkyckling]

great news. Hope this sets a precedent.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

This came out a little bit ago, but appeared in my News

Canadian figure skater under investigation for sexual assault

According to USA Today , Sørensen is being investigated by Canada's Office of the Sport Integrity over the alleged incident, which is said to have taken place on April 21, 2012.

www.dailymail.co.uk

allegedly 'pinning down' ex-American skater at a 2012 party: 'I feared for my life'​

 

[litenkyckling]

This came out a little bit ago, but appeared in my News

Canadian figure skater under investigation for sexual assault

According to USA Today , Sørensen is being investigated by Canada's Office of the Sport Integrity over the alleged incident, which is said to have taken place on April 21, 2012.

www.dailymail.co.uk

allegedly 'pinning down' ex-American skater at a 2012 party: 'I feared for my life'​

so awful. I really hope she's been able to get all the help she needs to deal with the aftermath of this. All power to her for speaking out.

 

[Holy Headband]

I've always believed his accuser because the story she told is simply all too common, but I didn't realise there was enough evidence left to get him banned from the sport so many years later. I saw some people mention a video of some sort? Since I haven't been following the story closely, could someone please confirm if supporting evidence has come out since the report first broke out?

 

[Firedancer]

Good and happy it got resolved relatively quickly compared to other cases we have seen.

 

[Colonel Green]

I assume IAM will do nothing until appeals are exhausted.

That would depend on whether the determination was suspended pending appeal.

 

[Karen-W]

I wonder how quickly he will appeal. Is there a stay/stay-equivalent while he appeals, ie, whether or not he can compete in Shanghai, for example.

I assume IAM will do nothing until appeals are exhausted.

That would depend on whether the determination was suspended pending appeal.

Well, the screenshot says "subject to potential challenge or appeal" so, it would seem like he has not appealed yet. Wouldn't it depend on what OSIC's rules are regarding continued participation/competing once a ban has been issued but is under appeal? With SafeSport, once the ban is issued, the governing body has to honor that action even while the decision is being appealed.

 

[kosjenka]

I am impressed how many people are happy to transfer the role of criminal justice system to sports ethics committee.

 

[Colonel Green]

I am impressed how many people are happy to transfer the role of criminal justice system to sports ethics committee.

This isn’t the role of the criminal justice system (hence why he’s not going to jail).

Moreover, due to the statute of limitations of the state of Connecticut, there was no option for the complainant to pursue criminal charges.

 

[PRlady]

I am impressed how many people are happy to transfer the role of criminal justice system to sports ethics committee.

Not really. The problem is he’s past the statute of limitations in the U.S., and as a Canadian/Danish citizen they couldn’t extradite him easily anyway. After 12 years, the sports committee is all there is.

 

[Karen-W]

I am impressed how many people are happy to transfer the role of criminal justice system to sports ethics committee.

Surely you are not equating a ban from figure skating or working with youth sports in general with being found guilty of a felony, potential prison time, and (at least in the US) the requirement to register as a sex offender in many locations? Because Nik is still, as far as I can tell, a free man with the ability to go get a job in any other field - and he does have some skill as a blacksmith/knifemaker so he is not without employable skills.

 

[Sylvia]

Brennan took the screenshot from here: https://registry.abuse-free-sport.ca/registry.php?mode=2

 

[Colonel Green]

Not really. The problem is he’s past the statute of limitations in the U.S., and as a Canadian/Danish citizen they couldn’t extradite him easily anyway. After 12 years, the sports committee is all there is.

Extradition wouldn’t (in all likelihood) be a problem if it was still possible to pursue charges and Hartford prosecutors chose to do so.