Judoka and lawyer Eelis Paukku told STT in an interview that he knows of several cases where ethics committees or disciplinary committees have made decisions without consulting one of the parties.
In the Hämeenlinna Volleyball Club, the inappropriate behavior towards the players that has been going on for a long time is one example of ethical abuses that have been made public recently. Member of the Ethics Disciplinary Board of the Olympic Committee Eelis Paukku believes that similar cases will emerge in the future as well.
– In many sports, there is still the Eastern European culture of the 1970s and 80s, in how people are trained and treated. It’s not ok these days, but some sports and clubs have grown up to it. Now people understand that this cannot work, says Paukku in an interview with STT.
In the case of Hämeenlinna, it was about the Manager’s actions, which included sexual overtones and also touching.
According to Pauku, sexual harassment is only one part of the problems that have come to light in recent years.
– There is inappropriate behavior from coaches, inappropriate coaching methods and interference with athletes’ weight.
Harassment cases are only a small part of the various improper ways of operating that have emerged in the sports community. In Pauku’s opinion, it’s not about the waves caused by the me too movement, but mostly about sports’ own setbacks.
– This is more of a general trend that grievances are also brought up in sports. I could see that this is part of a bigger change, what is brought out and what is addressed.
My sports career took me to the bronze medal at the World Championship
Eelis Pauku, 27, has a successful background in both the legal field and sports. In January 2020, he defended his doctorate in jurisprudence as the youngest Finn ever.
He reached the peak of his sports career last year when he won the bronze medal at the Judo Championship in the category under 90 kilograms. After that, the goal-oriented competitive sport of a man living in Oulu turned into an active hobby.
With his own experiences, Paukku understands well how high a threshold an athlete has to cross when bringing up an unethical activity.
– The athlete always takes the risk that bringing up the matter will lead to nothing. And if he doesn’t lead, his position is bad in many sports associations. In many places, the operating culture is inwardly warm.
According to Pauku, the athlete has to think about the effect of bringing things up on his career. Unfortunately, the effect is often negative.
Legal processes are difficult for small sports associations
If an athlete brings up grievances, the issues are often dealt with in their own sports association. According to Paukku, especially in small sports associations, decisions are made with emotion.
– There are voluntarily people who have completely different professional skills and who are not even able to handle the legal process matter.
He knows of several cases where ethics committees or disciplinary committees have made decisions without consulting any of the parties. Even a person who is suspected of improper activity may have gone unheard.
– In many cases, such decisions have been overturned in the Sports Legal Protection Board.
To improve the situation, Paukku highlights one good example from his own sport. The martial arts have a joint disciplinary committee, which resolves the issues of six different sports federations.
– Things are discussed there from different perspectives, when everyone doesn’t know each other.
The media also does its own work as a watchdog of power.
– I know of a case for my own main job, where media fear has affected how things are handled in the sports association.