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French Ice Sports Chief Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal French Ice Sports Chief Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Scandal
(32 minutes later)
PARIS — The president of the French Federation of Ice Sports, Didier Gailhaguet, said on Saturday that he had resigned after allegations of sexual abuse of underage figure skaters by their coaches that have prompted a broader reckoning across other sports in France.PARIS — The president of the French Federation of Ice Sports, Didier Gailhaguet, said on Saturday that he had resigned after allegations of sexual abuse of underage figure skaters by their coaches that have prompted a broader reckoning across other sports in France.
“For the sake of appeasement, I made the wise decision to resign with philosophy, dignity, but without bitterness,” Mr. Gailhaguet, 66, told reporters at the end of a special meeting in Paris during which he tendered his resignation.“For the sake of appeasement, I made the wise decision to resign with philosophy, dignity, but without bitterness,” Mr. Gailhaguet, 66, told reporters at the end of a special meeting in Paris during which he tendered his resignation.
Mr. Gailhaguet, a former figure skater who has presided over ice sports in France since 1998 — apart from a hiatus from 2004 to 2007 — stepped down amid a scandal brought to light by Sarah Abitbol, who won a bronze medal at the figure-skating world championships in 2000. Ms. Abitbol accused her former coach Gilles Beyer of raping her several times from 1990 to 1992, when she was 15 to 17.Mr. Gailhaguet, a former figure skater who has presided over ice sports in France since 1998 — apart from a hiatus from 2004 to 2007 — stepped down amid a scandal brought to light by Sarah Abitbol, who won a bronze medal at the figure-skating world championships in 2000. Ms. Abitbol accused her former coach Gilles Beyer of raping her several times from 1990 to 1992, when she was 15 to 17.
Four other female figure skaters have accused Mr. Beyer and two other coaches, Jean-Roland Racle and Michel Lotz, of sexual harassment and underage sexual abuse.Four other female figure skaters have accused Mr. Beyer and two other coaches, Jean-Roland Racle and Michel Lotz, of sexual harassment and underage sexual abuse.
In a written statement, Mr. Beyer conceded having had “intimate” and “inappropriate” relations with Ms. Abitbol. Mr. Racle denied the charges, and Mr. Lotz declined to comment.In a written statement, Mr. Beyer conceded having had “intimate” and “inappropriate” relations with Ms. Abitbol. Mr. Racle denied the charges, and Mr. Lotz declined to comment.
Mr. Gailhaguet was accused of allowing Mr. Beyer to continue having roles at the French figure-skating federation despite several alerts from the early 2000s that highlighted repeated misbehavior against young skaters.Mr. Gailhaguet was accused of allowing Mr. Beyer to continue having roles at the French figure-skating federation despite several alerts from the early 2000s that highlighted repeated misbehavior against young skaters.
On Tuesday, French prosecutors opened an investigation into claims of rape and sexual abuse of minors in figure skating. And the allegations coincided with other claims of underage sexual abuse by former female swimmers and prompted a female horse rider to make similar accusations.On Tuesday, French prosecutors opened an investigation into claims of rape and sexual abuse of minors in figure skating. And the allegations coincided with other claims of underage sexual abuse by former female swimmers and prompted a female horse rider to make similar accusations.
A total of 54 French Olympic athletes, including the judo star Teddy Riner, a multiple Olympic and world champion, published an open letter on Wednesday hailing the “first crack in the wall of silence.”A total of 54 French Olympic athletes, including the judo star Teddy Riner, a multiple Olympic and world champion, published an open letter on Wednesday hailing the “first crack in the wall of silence.”
“It’s time to act collectively and understand that breaking the silence is to do service to sport,” the letter read.“It’s time to act collectively and understand that breaking the silence is to do service to sport,” the letter read.
In her autobiography released on Jan. 30, “Un Si Long Silence” (“Such a Long Silence”), Ms. Abitbol described the barriers that she had faced when she had tried to denounce her coach’s behavior. In her autobiography released on Jan. 30, “Un si long silence” (“Such a Long Silence”), Ms. Abitbol described the barriers that she had faced when she had tried to denounce her coach’s behavior.
“Basically, everyone said to me, ‘Take your medicine and be quiet!’” Ms. Abitbol told the French magazine L’Obs. “I obeyed. I took my medicine and I fell silent.”“Basically, everyone said to me, ‘Take your medicine and be quiet!’” Ms. Abitbol told the French magazine L’Obs. “I obeyed. I took my medicine and I fell silent.”
On Monday, reacting to the claims, the French sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, called for Mr. Gailhaguet to resign, saying he “cannot absolve himself of his moral and personal responsibility.”On Monday, reacting to the claims, the French sports minister, Roxana Maracineanu, called for Mr. Gailhaguet to resign, saying he “cannot absolve himself of his moral and personal responsibility.”
But Mr. Gailhaguet, far from yielding to the mounting pressure, called a news conference on Wednesday during which he denied any responsibility and instead placed the blame on the French Sports Ministry, saying it had allowed Mr. Beyer to continue working despite evidence against him.But Mr. Gailhaguet, far from yielding to the mounting pressure, called a news conference on Wednesday during which he denied any responsibility and instead placed the blame on the French Sports Ministry, saying it had allowed Mr. Beyer to continue working despite evidence against him.
An inquiry in 2000 prompted the Sports Ministry to remove Mr. Beyer from his technical role at the federation, but he remained a coach at club level and held an executive position at the federation until 2018.An inquiry in 2000 prompted the Sports Ministry to remove Mr. Beyer from his technical role at the federation, but he remained a coach at club level and held an executive position at the federation until 2018.
“In order to resign, I would have had to be at fault,” Mr. Gailhaguet said. “I certainly committed errors, several of them, but I am not at fault.”“In order to resign, I would have had to be at fault,” Mr. Gailhaguet said. “I certainly committed errors, several of them, but I am not at fault.”
But in announcing his resignation on Saturday, Mr. Gailhaguet pointed to what he called the “ministerial dictatorship” that he said had forced him to step down.But in announcing his resignation on Saturday, Mr. Gailhaguet pointed to what he called the “ministerial dictatorship” that he said had forced him to step down.
Ms. Abitbol told L’Obs, “Didier Gailhaguet’s resignation was necessary, but it’s only a first step.”Ms. Abitbol told L’Obs, “Didier Gailhaguet’s resignation was necessary, but it’s only a first step.”
“We still have to clean up the whole federation where he has all his friends,” she added. “Those who kept quiet and supported his system are still there.”“We still have to clean up the whole federation where he has all his friends,” she added. “Those who kept quiet and supported his system are still there.”