New investigation into coach over allegations of historic sex abuse
a second investigation into allegations of sex abuse against a coach is to be launched by British canoeing and UK sport.
Sportsmail revealed in april that a coach made a young female athlete an offer of guaranteed team selection for last year’s Rio olympic Games in return for sex and also made a lewd comment to another athlete.
an initial investigation had been concluded but in april new claims ‘of a historical nature’ emerged against the coach, who has been suspended since december, and British canoeing approached UK sport for help with setting up another inquiry. In a statement,
British Canoeing said: ‘As a result of allegations received by British Canoeing in December 2016, a member of our performance team was suspended and an independent investigation was immediately initiated.
‘ This investigation has been concluded but until a hearing has taken place we are unable to comment further on this matter.
‘In April of this year we received further and separate allegations of a historical nature and we have been working with UK Sport to commission a second independent investigation into these matters.
‘ British Canoeing was very concerned to receive each of these allegations. We take these matters extremely seriously and will ensure that they are appropriately and fully dealt with.’
A statement from UK Sport, which received £ 20million in public funding in the build-up to Rio 2016, confirmed it has been in regular contact with British Canoeing since December.
It added: ‘We can confirm we are working with British Canoeing to establish a second and separate independent investigation about further allegations which were received in April 2017. This investigation will commence shortly.’
The scandal draws comparisons with the child-abuse scandal that has rocked British football over the last nine months.
Dozens of British police forces are still investigating more than 1,000 historic cases, involving 250 clubs, around the country, while the Football Association has commissioned its own independent investigation led by Clive Sheldon QC.