PARIS (AP) – A year-long, nationwide French effort to expose and combat sexual violence in sport has identified more than 400 coaches, teachers and others suspected of abusing or disguising it.
According to data released by the Ministry of Sport on Friday, most of the victims were under 15. The alleged abuse included sexual assault, harassment or other violence.
Sixty people have faced criminal proceedings, more than 100 have been temporarily or permanently removed from their posts, and local investigations are underway into other cases, the ministry said.
The abuse came across the country and across the sector, with accusations leveled at a total of 48 sports federations.
Of the accused, 96% are men. Of the victims, 83% were women and 63% were under 15, the ministry said.
The investigation into the facts was launched in February 2020 after ten-time French skating champion Sarah Abitbol said in a book that she was raped by coach Gilles Beyer from 1990-92, when she was a teenager. Beyer has been provisionally charged with sexual assault and the investigation is continuing.
In the wake of Abitbol’s allegations, more skaters have spoken out to denounce alleged sexual violence of coaches. The sports ministry set up a dedicated platform for the testimony of athletes and held a year of hearings.
In its statement, the ministry called Abitbol’s testimony ‘a historic moment for French sport’ ‘which raised awareness and prompted authorities to curb abuse. A new law on stricter investigations of sports educators, including volunteer coaches, came into force on Friday and the French government and sports federations have promised to respond faster and more effectively to reports of abuse.