OSIC ruling: Nikolaj Soerensen suspended for a minimum of 6 years

[Sylvia]

Canadian Press article (Oct. 2, 2024): https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/...-sexual-maltreatment-figure-skating-1.7340440

Excerpt from the beginning:

Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Soerensen has been suspended for at least six years for "sexual maltreatment," the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner announced Wednesday.

The suspension was listed on the office's Abuse-Free Sport registry [https://registry.abuse-free-sport.ca/registry.php?mode=2] and is subject to challenge or appeal.

The ban is a result of an OSIC investigation into an allegation that Soerensen sexually assaulted an American figure skating coach and former skater in Hartford, Conn., in 2012.

Soerensen has denied the allegation, which has not been tested in court.

Skate Canada, the country's governing body of figure skating, said in a statement it "has been made aware of the decision from Abuse-Free Sport in this matter and is taking the necessary action to comply with it."

"The ban will be issued by Skate Canada," the statement reads.

Reuters article:

https://www.reuters.com/sports/canadas-nikolaj-soerensen-suspended-minimum-six-years-sexual-maltreatment-2024-10-02/

ETA the link to Christine Brennan's original article (Jan. 4, 2024): https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...estigated-alleged-sexual-assault/72105568007/

 

[danafan]

Earlier I noted that their international assignments were removed from Skate Canada‘s webpage. They have now been removed from the national team page.

 

[Sylvia]

Brennan has posted “the statement sent to me this afternoon by the survivor’s attorney, Nancy Hogshead”: https://x.com/cbrennansports/status/1841576836897116364

 

[overedge]

Good.

 

[caseyedwards]

What a disgraceful miscarriage of justice

 

[overedge]

Unless you were an investigator in the case and know all the evidence, this would be an appropriate time to STFU.

 

[kwanfan1818]

JudgeThree posted this on Twitter:

Nik Sorensen becomes the fourth person with ties to the small central Connecticut skating community to be banned for sexual misconduct following Bob Young, Tom Incantalupo, & Andrew Lavrik (overturned). At least two others were the subjects of multi-year SafeSport investigations.

https://x.com/JudgeThree/status/1841552784992161860

 

[Sylvia]

Updated as of October 2, 2024 (page 2): https://lamp.skatecanada.ca/suspended-en.pdf

INTERIM SUSPENSIONS
The following individuals have been placed on an interim suspension by Skate Canada pending completion of investigation and resolution.
...
Nikolaj Soerensen Coach and Registrant – QC Indefinite Suspension – Minimum 6 years
In effect for the following period: October 2, 2024 – To be determined

Interim Suspension: the following individual has been provisionally placed on suspension by Skate Canada pending the outcome of an investigation, appeal and final decision. The individual is not permitted to partake in registrant or member activity as prescribed by Skate Canada.

 

[Karen-W]

Holy crap...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841933364737278148

 

[Karen-W]

wrong thread

 

[Rukia]

Holy crap...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841933364737278148

if that's true...wow

 

[Debbie S]

An abuser trying to (apparently badly) cover for another abuser in the skating world. Shocker.

 

[Karen-W]

And Christine Brennan has shared remarks from the survivor - there's some people who're gonna be feeling it today - especially the commentators from Worlds. Yikes.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841943042166599761

 

[Wyliefan]

That is both very straightforward and very gracious.

 

[skatfan]

What an impressive statement. I hope the IAM crowd gets humbled by this decision and that they reflect on how they can best be supportive.

 

[Miezekatze]

A really great statement!

 

[Karen-W]

Add'l info from TSL -

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841947125879570511

 

[Willin]

It's a great statement.

But there are things I'm curious about - skaters being forced to train with them and calling the coaches behavior in particular is interesting. I wonder if there's more to the story about what happened internally at IAM than we know. Of course skaters can be forced by circumstance (limited ice time and coaching availability), but it makes it seem like the other skaters at IAM were not necessarily as supportive as IAM advertised. They like to pretend it's happy there, but you do wonder how this played out...

 

[ice crystal]

Add'l info from TSL -

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841947125879570511

I was wondering about a possible successful appeal, but this makes me confident that the finding is iron clad and will stand. Good!

 

[Karen-W]

It's a great statement.

But there are things I'm curious about - skaters being forced to train with them and calling the coaches behavior in particular is interesting. I wonder if there's more to the story about what happened internally at IAM than we know. Of course skaters can be forced by circumstance (limited ice time and coaching availability), but it makes it seem like the other skaters at IAM were not necessarily as supportive as IAM advertised. They like to pretend it's happy there, but you do wonder how this played out...

Welllllll... IAM plans on complying. I mean, what choice do they have?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841955876246323543

 

[Willin]

@Karen-W I'm more speaking to what happened when the allegations first came out. Between January and now. It can't have been comfortable there.

 

[overedge]

I'm very glad that the survivor called out the media that covered Worlds and minimized (or ignored) the allegations. Maybe that will make at least some of them think twice before they speak. And that also goes for media minimizing (or ignoring) alleged abuse of other kinds, like Eteri starving and drugging and overworking her students.

 

[marbri]

I'm very glad that the survivor called out the media that covered Worlds and minimized (or ignored) the allegations. Maybe that will make at least some of them think twice before they speak. And that also goes for media minimizing (or ignoring) alleged abuse of other kinds, like Eteri starving and drugging and overworking her students.

And figure skating fans. She also called them out:

A word to the figure skating fans: Please refrain from bullying or retaliation against anyone who appeared in photos with the respondent since the news broke.

 

[Karen-W]

I'm very glad that the survivor called out the media that covered Worlds and minimized (or ignored) the allegations. Maybe that will make at least some of them think twice before they speak. And that also goes for media minimizing (or ignoring) alleged abuse of other kinds, like Eteri starving and drugging and overworking her students.

And figure skating fans. She also called them out:

"A word to the figure skating fans: Please refrain from bullying or retaliation against anyone who appeared in photos with the respondent since the news broke."

I don't know that I read that as calling out fans who've gone after the people who actively clicked "like" on Nik's post defending himself, so much as it is saying "go gently on those who, out of politeness, not wanting to make waves, or maybe not knowing the full story" allowed themselves to be photographed with Nik. We don't know if Nik was going up to people, loudly asserting his innocence, or actively photo-bombing and people were basically were left in a no-win situation. There is a wide gulf between going along to get along and not making things more uncomfortable than they were already given the circumstances vs choosing to "like" a post.

 

[marbri]

I don't know that I read that as calling out fans who've gone after the people who actively clicked "like" on Nik's post defending himself, so much as it is saying "go gently on those who, out of politeness, not wanting to make waves, or maybe not knowing the full story" allowed themselves to be photographed with Nik. We don't know if Nik was going up to people, loudly asserting his innocence, or actively photo-bombing and people were basically were left in a no-win situation. There is a wide gulf between going along to get along and not making things more uncomfortable than they were already given the circumstances vs choosing to "like" a post.

I quoted what the victim said, her words, and will leave it at that.

I think there are a lot of people all around who should think about how they responded and behaved around this case.
A complaint was made. An investigation was conducted. A decision was reached. The victim received justice and Nik received the consequences of his actions. And all other official bodies concerned have now acted appropriately to the conclusion of this investigation.

For me this case is now closed. Thoughts to the victim, Laurence, and all the family and friends of the victim, Laurence and Nik who have been going through a lot from April (?) 2012 until October 2024 ( and well I guess beyond...)

 

[Karen-W]

One last tweet with additional info from TSL... Sounds like the case is pretty rock-solid.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841991555265004026

 

[Hedwig]

I refused to watch ice dancing at Worlds due to this (at least their routines) so I missed the commentators downplaying it. This is very shocking

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I’m truly shocked about this. I honestly believed they would find some way to sweep this under the rug rather than holding him accountable.

IAM also seemed very confident he was going to get away with it based on their actions since the allegation. I’d say that I hope the IAM leadership reevaluates some of their decisions, but I know they won’t.

 

[Yyzskater]

And Christine Brennan has shared remarks from the survivor - there's some people who're gonna be feeling it today - especially the commentators from Worlds. Yikes.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841943042166599761

While the commentators comments were distasteful at best, I really feel it was Skate Canada and IAM that truly have the most to be ashamed of. Skate Canada, continuing to promote him of their social media platforms despite him being under investigation for such a grievous crime sends a clear message to any potential victims of SA that they will not be supported. And IAM's disregard for their other skaters who may not have been comfortable being on the same ice with him. I am unsure if he was still continuing to to coach during this time.

 

[Xallie]

I don't know that I read that as calling out fans who've gone after the people who actively clicked "like" on Nik's post defending himself, so much as it is saying "go gently on those who, out of politeness, not wanting to make waves, or maybe not knowing the full story" allowed themselves to be photographed with Nik. We don't know if Nik was going up to people, loudly asserting his innocence, or actively photo-bombing and people were basically were left in a no-win situation. There is a wide gulf between going along to get along and not making things more uncomfortable than they were already given the circumstances vs choosing to "like" a post.

I'd guess it's mostly aimed at the people who have been criticizing Bock for inviting FB/S to their wedding in Hawaii.

there are things I'm curious about - skaters being forced to train with them and calling the coaches behavior in particular is interesting. I wonder if there's more to the story about what happened internally at IAM than we know. Of course skaters can be forced by circumstance (limited ice time and coaching availability), but it makes it seem like the other skaters at IAM were not necessarily as supportive as IAM advertised. They like to pretend it's happy there, but you do wonder how this played out...

TSL also posted this:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841949707893125206

And this...

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841956366954447155