PARIS (AP) – A French nationwide effort over the past year to discover and combat sexual violence in sport has identified more than 400 coaches, teachers and others suspected of abusing or covering them up.
Most of the victims were under 15, according to data released Friday by the sports ministry. 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 in other cases, the ministry said.
The abuse spread across the country and across the sector, with allegations targeting a total of 48 sports federations.
Of those charged, 96% are men. Of the victims, 83 percent were women and 63 percent were under 15, the ministry said.
The research probe was launched in February 2020 after 10-time French skating champion Sarah Abitbol said in a book that she was raped by coach Gilles Beyer during 1990-92, when she was a teenager. Beyer has received preliminary allegations of sexual assault and the investigation is ongoing.
Following Abitbol’s accusations, several skaters have spoken out to denounce alleged sexual violence by coaches. The Ministry of Sports has created a platform dedicated to the testimonies of athletes and organized a year of hearings.
In its statement, the ministry called Abitbol’s testimony “a historic moment for French sport,” which raised awareness and pushed authorities to fight abuse. A new law on tougher control of sports educators, including volunteer coaches, came into force on Friday, and the French government and sports federations have pledged to respond more quickly and effectively to reports of abuse.