Growing fears of a toxic ice skating culture in Australia have led to a significant intervention by the federal government’s sports integrity watchdog.
Sport Integrity Australia (SIA) chief executive David Sharpe said in a statement on Tuesday the agency was “concerned” about complaints that had arisen in recent weeks.
Those concerns have prompted the government body to deploy one of its leading integrity managers to Ice Skating Australia (ISA).
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The development follows the blacklisting of Australian Olympic ice skater Brendan Kerry, who was banned for life from competing in the US after an investigation found he engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor.
Wide World of Sports contacted Kerry and his mother, Olympic ice skater Monica MacDonald, to request comment last month, but is yet to receive a reply.
Brendan Kerry performing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
“I can confirm we have received a small number of complaints; however, the extent of media coverage does not match the number of complaints received,” Sharpe said in the SIA statement.
“We are concerned about the issues raised in the media and we will work with the sport to ensure an appropriate response to protect the safety of all participants.”
SIA is working with ISA in an effort to understand the issues facing Australian ice skating and provide guidance on the management of complaints, the statement said.
“Any complaint reaching a criminal threshold will immediately be referred to the relevant law enforcement or child protection agencies,” Sharpe said.
“Mr Sharpe today announced a temporary placement of a SIA national integrity manager to be deployed to Ice Skating Australia,” the statement said.
“This integrity manager will provide support to Ice Skating Australia in the management of matters.”
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).