World champion Anderson Peters assaulted on boat
NEW DELHI: Reigning javelin world champion Anderson Peters was beaten up and reportedly thrown overboard a boat in Grenada on Wednesday night. In a 12-second clip that is being widely shared on social media, the 24-year-old can be seen being assaulted by at least five men. Dressed in a blue t-shirt and shorts, Peters was punched and kicked multiple times before he was pushed to the ground. Reports claimed he was later thrown into the water.
A rival of India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, Peters defended his world title at Hayward Field in Eugene last month, throwing 90.54m, his fourth throw of over 90m this season. The Grenadian took silver at the recently-concluded CWG with a best of 88.64m, behind Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem who won a surprise gold with a Games record of 90.18m. Peters is receiving medical attention for minor injuries, Royal Grenada Police Force confirmed in a statement. The police have detained the crew of the vessel Harbour Master which is owned by Adrian Scoon, son of Trade Minister Paula GopeeScoon. Another boat owned by Scoon, Ocean Pelican, landed in trouble on Boxing Day last year for hosting an event while Covid-19 restrictions were in force in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Grenada Olympic Committee (GOC) has also condemned the “barbaric actions” of the perpetrators of the assault, Caribbean National Weekly reported. In a statement, the GOC said the attack on Peters was carried out by nonnationals and the athlete did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
“We have received preliminary information on the incident and understand that our world champion sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the assault meted out by these non-nationals. The Grenada Olympic Committee joins with all of Grenada in condemning these barbaric actions.
“We stand ready to lend our support with his recovery and look forward to an expeditious resolution to the matter,” the statement said.
The Caribbean National Weekly also carried a statement by the opposition New National Party. “We strongly denounce all acts of violence and submit that such should not be tolerated. Grenada is marked by its peaceful nature and without a doubt, we subscribe to the rule of law,” it said. “There are no words to adequately express my regret, disappointment, and dismay at what was seen on the video of an altercation involving Grenada and Caribbean sports hero Anderson Peters,” Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) President Brian Lewis told the insidethegames website.
A national icon in Grenada, Peters arrived home to a hero’s welcome recently. His reception was attended by PM Dickon Mitchell and Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture Ron Redhead.