PARIS (AP) – A year-round French effort at the national level to discover and combat sexual violence in sports has identified more than 400 coaches, teachers and other people suspected of abuse or concealment.
Most of the victims were under the age of 15, according to data released Friday by the sports ministry. Alleged abuses include sexual assault, harassment or other violence.
Sixty people have faced criminal charges, more than 100 have been temporarily or permanently removed from office and other cases are being investigated locally, the ministry said.
The abuses reached across the country and across the sector, with allegations directed at a total of 48 sports federations.
Of the defendants, 96% are men. Of the victims, 83% were women and 63% were under 15, according to the ministry.
The research probe 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 between 1990-92, when she was a teenager. Beyer received the preliminary charges of sexual assault and the investigation continues.
Following the allegations of Abitbol, more skaters spoke out to denounce the alleged sexual violence of the coaches. The sports ministry created a platform dedicated to the testimonies of athletes and held a year of hearings.
In its statement, the ministry described the Abitbol testimony as “a historic moment for French sport” that sensitized and pushed authorities to crack down on abuses. A new law on tougher control of sports educators, including volunteer coaches, came into force on Friday and the French government and sports federations pledged to respond more quickly and effectively to reports of abuse.