Former U.S. snowboarders sue coaches for abuse
![Former U.S. snowboarders sue coaches for abuse](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/rdxk7lfa/production/7a1405226b4492e7bc6b97d71fbe302ae010c132-1024x683.jpg?w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format)
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.
Enjoying this article? Want more?![](data:image/png;base64,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)
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/rdxk7lfa/production/939a3728023359755e8eb65854b5b0256734b658-1772x1773.png?rect=0,1,1772,1772&w=80&h=80&q=75&fit=max&auto=format)
Sign up for The GIST and receive the latest sports news straight to your inbox three times a week.