French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu on Thursday urged abuse victims to speak up after a series of rape and sexual agression allegations in figure skating, reports Reuters.
French prosecutors launched a preliminary investigation on Tuesday into former figure skating coach Gilles Beyer for the alleged rape of a minor and sexual aggression.
Former figure skater Sarah Abitbol, a bronze medallist with partner Stephane Bernadis at the 2000 world championships, recently published a book in which she said Beyer had raped her multiple times from 1990 to 1992.
In a statement to Agence France-Presse, Beyer admitted to “intimate” and “inappropriate” relations with Abitbol. He could not be reached for comment.
Maracineanu told reporters at Global Sports Week in Paris that she was “launching a solemn appeal to all victims, past and present, to speak up so that we can find the offenders and prosecute them.”
She added that she wanted children to be able to practice sport safely.
Three other skaters have said they were sexually assaulted by former coaches, prompting Maracineanu to ask ice sports federation president Didier Gailhaguet to resign.
Gailhaguet has been president of the FFSG since 1998, with a hiatus between 2004-07. He has said he made mistakes, but that he was “not at fault”.
“This is a serious situation. Educators, athletes, associations, we all need to face the problem and find a solution together,” said Maracineanu.
Tony Estanguet, the head of the Paris 2024 Olympics organising committee, said they would guarantee a safe games for children.
“It is time to draw conclusions from what has been happening. It is serious, it is shocking and it puts the whole system at risk,” Estanguet told reporters.