Judge to decide if Humphries free to join U.S. team
Two-time Canadian Olympic gold medallist Kaillie Humphries has asked a Calgary judge to allow her to compete for the U.S. bobsled team.
Justice Charlene Anderson heard arguments Monday on whether Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton should be ordered to provide her with a release from Team Canada, paving the way for her to take her talents south.
The Court of Queen’s Bench judge said she will decide Tuesday whether Humphries will get her wish, which would allow her to take part in push trials for the American team beginning Wednesday.
Lawyer Jeffery Rath argued there is no reason Humphries should be denied the release letter the U.S. team is requiring since she is no longer contractually obligated to BCS.
Rath told Anderson that Humphries’ contract with BCS expired at the end of June, meaning she is no longer required to follow BCS regulations when it comes to complaints. Humphries, 34, has filed a $45-million lawsuit against BCS claiming “verbal and mental abuse” by team coach Todd Hays.
But BCS lawyer Arif Chowdhury told Anderson an independent review of her allegations found no evidence of harassment.
Chowdhury said Humphries should be taking her case to Sports Dispute Resolution of Canada, not to a courtroom.
He said high-calibre athletes like Humphries, who has won two Olympic gold medals for Canada, should not be able to take advantage of the training and taxpayer investment in them and switch to another nation.
He noted a Skate Canada rule that says athletes who benefit from federal funding agree not to compete for another nation for as many years as they have received support from Canada.
But Rath said by that rationale, Humphries wouldn’t be able to join another national squad for 15 years.
He also said Humphries has been blackballed by the Canadian federation, alleging teammates have been told not to compete with her, or train with her unless they want to face a similar fate.
“It’s clear to her that Bobsleigh Canada has no desire to have her competing for them,” Rath said.
“She requires a release letter that has been repeatedly refused.”
Anderson asked Rath why Humphries simply hasn’t informed the U.S. team she is no longer contractually obligated to Canada.
The lawyer said if necessary that would be her next step, but for now a release document is what the U.S.