Canadian ice dancer Nikolaj Sørensen suspended for at least six years for alleged ‘sexual assault’

By Ben Morse, CNN

(CNN) — Canadian ice dancer Nikolaj Sørensen has been suspended for a minimum of six years for “sexual assault,” Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) announced on Wednesday.

The suspension comes after an investigation by the OSIC into Sørensen’s alleged sexual assault in 2012 against an American figure skater and coach, the attorney for the alleged victim – former Olympic champion swimmer Nancy Hogshead – confirmed to CNN.

It was listed on OSIC’s ‘Abuse-Free Sport’ portal and can be challenged or appealed. Sørensen will be eligible for a reassessment after six years.

The Sport Dispute Resolution Center of Canada (SDRCC) told CNN that both parties have 21 days to appeal to the SDRCC’s Safeguarding Tribunal.

It is unclear whether the alleged attack was ever reported to police, or whether there was ever an investigation by law enforcement.

CNN has contacted Sørensen for further comment.

In an Instagram post in January, he said he would fully cooperate with the investigation. “These allegations are false and I intend to vigorously defend myself and my reputation,” he wrote.

In a statement to CNN, Skate Canada said it “has been made aware of Abuse-Free Sport’s decision in this matter and is taking the necessary action to comply.”

When contacted by CNN, the International Skating Union (ISU) said it is withdrawing Sørensen from all ISU-recognized competitions and “taking all necessary measures to comply with the decision of indefinite exclusion.”

“The ISU firmly believes that all athletes have the right to participate and develop in sport within a safe, inclusive and respectful environment – ​​free from any form of discrimination, harassment, abuse, violence, neglect or exploitation… The ISU takes reports of misconduct with the utmost seriousness and recognizes the profound impact such cases can have on those involved.”

The alleged victim thanked all the support she has received in a statement sent to CNN by her lawyer. She said that while the investigation process was “disheartening,” she “cannot emphasize enough the importance that abuse must be treated with extreme caution and cannot be rushed.”

She added: “I hope the respondent can finally take responsibility for his actions and seek help to become a safe member of society outside of our sport.

“I am sure I am not the only survivor who was distraught to hear the supportive comments about them on air, which completely trivialized the experience of rape survivors and furthered the dangerous culture of victim silence in our sport.

“Please believe the survivors and continue to support safe sporting measures across borders and in sport.”

Hogshead confirmed to CNN that the OSIC investigation stems from an incident when her client was 22 and Sørensen was 23.

Although the alleged victim’s report to the OSIC has not yet been released to the public, Hogshead tells CNN that the alleged assault occurred after a party in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2012.

Hogshead, who runs a nonprofit legal advocacy group for girls and women in sports, said in her own statement to CNN that her client “deserves a medal for her professionalism, her candid portrayal of a terrible night, her steady ability to to stay. this process takes 14 1/2 months.”

“Sexual abusers have no place in sports. While most people agree with this statement, in practice it remains difficult to remove those who have engaged in sexual misconduct.

“My client says that she would not have come forward if she had not seen that Nikolaj Sørensen was turning to coaching figure skaters and that this would pose a risk to many more girls and women, who would have no idea of ​​the monster that they encountered.

“The process has been long and difficult for my client, but she is encouraged by the fact that the skating community is ultimately safer and he is being banned. Moreover, she hopes that more abused skaters will come forward; Figure skating continues to suffer from a culture of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.”

The OSIC declined to comment when contacted by CNN.

Sørensen wrote on Instagram in January: “I believe that everyone should feel safe and protected, both on and off the ice. A positive and supportive environment in sport is crucial for all of us.

Sørensen also said in the post that he and his skating partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry would withdraw from the Canadian National and Speed ​​Skating Championships later that month believing that their “participation would be distracting.”

The duo returned to action in early February at the 2024 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai, China, where they finished in the ice dance.

Sørensen competed at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, finishing ninth in the ice dancing competition with Beaudry.

The CNN Wire
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