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Former U.S. snowboarders sue coaches for abuse

February 6, 2023
On Thursday, three former U.S. snowboarders sued their former coach, Peter Foley, for sexual abuse and sex trafficking, along with U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for covering up those abuses.
Sports NewsSnowboarding
Former U.S. snowboarders sue coaches for abuse
SOURCE: MIKE EHRMANN/GETTY IMAGES

The GIST: Another day, another story highlighting a much-needed reckoning across international sporting organizations. On Thursday, three former U.S. snowboarders sued their former coach, Peter Foley, for sexual abuse and sex trafficking, along with U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) andthe U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) for covering up those abuses.

The details: Olympic bronze medalist Rosey Fletcher, 2010 Olympian Callan Chythlook-Sifsof and Erin O’Malley filed the lawsuit, claiming that Foley used his position to “coerce sexual acts through force, manipulation, emotional abuse, intimidation and retaliation.”

  • The snowboarders also accuse USSS and the USOPC of failing to act when abuse allegations were initially reported. Because of course.

The background: The news comes nearly a year after Chythlook-Sifsof bravely came forward with allegations against Foley via Instagram. USSS placed him on a leave of absence before firing him in March 2022, ending his 28-year tenure at the helm of the program.

Zooming out: FromHockey Canada to USA Gymnastics, sporting organizations letting rampant abuse go unchecked (and even enabling it) is sadly all too familiar. Power imbalances, inadequate oversight, a lack of accountability — the systemic problems are apparent. But there is no excuse; enough is enough.

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