Three former US snowboarders claim that former coach Peter Foley sexually assaulted several athletes over twenty years.
Bronze medalist of the Torino Winter Olympics Rosey Fletcher and two other former US snowboarders Erin O’Malley and Callan Chytlook-Sifsof challenged their former head coach on Thursday by Peter Foleysuing the US Snowboarding Association and the country’s Olympic and Paralympic committees.
They allege Foley sexually assaulted them and other women “for nearly twenty years.”
Former snowboarders believe the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the US Snowboarding Association have condoned and covered up Foley’s crimes.
According to the lawsuit, Foley, who has been coaching the national snowboard team since the 1990s, misused his position of trust to force athletes to commit sexual acts using force, manipulation, bullying, intimidation and revenge.
Fletcher says of The Washington Post (you are moving to another service) alleging that Foley touched her bottom and kissed her without permission after the match. According to O’Malley, for example, Foley groped and kissed her in an elevator without permission and constantly commented on O’Malley’s weight, which led to an eating disorder.
According to snowboarders, Foley’s behavior was reported several times to both the US Snowboarding Association and the Olympic and Paralympic Committee, but they did not react in any way.
The US Snowboarding Association said it was aware of the legal challenge. It has not yet delved into it further. The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee was on the same lines.
– We take all accusations of abuse seriously. We are doing everything we can to identify and stop abuse in our community, the Olympic and Paralympic Committee commented, according to AFP.
Also a former spokesperson for the US Snowboard Association Lindsey Nikola sued Foley on Thursday for sexual misconduct with his own summons.
Foley was fired from coaching duties after the Beijing Olympics in March 2022. Chythlook-Sifsof, who won silver at the X Games in 2011, made allegations about Foley’s sexual abuse on social media during the Games.
– Foley has been taking nude photos of female athletes for over a decade. He commented on my appearance when I was only 17 years old, Chythlook-Sifsof wrote.
Shortly after, Foley was suspended and fired by the US Snowboarding Association, although he was supported by some of the skiers on the Olympic team.
Sources: AFP, Washington Post, Outsports