Montreal will finally host the World Figure Skating Championships from March 20 to 24, but a dark cloud hangs over the event due to allegations of sexual assault against a member of the Canadian team and the rest of the sports doping saga involving Russian skater Kamila Valieva.
Dancer Nikolaj Sorensen has always denied the allegations of sexual assault against him. Despite this, he and his partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry withdrew from the Canadian Championships, which took place a few days after the allegations were published in the USA Today on January 4.
However, they participated in the Four Continents Championships, from January 29 to February 4, and were selected by Skate Canada to represent the country at the Worlds, which will take place at the Bell Centre.
“I continue to deny the allegations and will attempt to defend myself to the best of my ability,” Sorensen said Wednesday. Obviously, when something like this comes out in the media, the damage is done and I think that was the intention more than anything else. However, there are confidentiality rules that are in place for good reasons. »
“The situation is extremely difficult for us and it has affected us greatly,” he added. The fact that we are here demonstrates our confidence in ourselves, in our integrity and our desire to share the beauty of our sport with the people of Montreal during the Worlds. »
The World Figure Skating Championships were scheduled to be held in Montreal in March 2020, but were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Skate Canada successfully represented Montreal’s candidacy for this year.
Canadian skaters took to the ice at the Bell Center on Wednesday in preparation for the event. They walked on eggshells when they were questioned about the participation of Sorensen and Fournier Beaudry at the Worlds.
“They are long-time training colleagues,” recalled skater Marjorie Lajoie. I am studying sexual health and I am moving towards sexology and psychology. So it’s a subject that touches me greatly. I’m going into this area to make changes. »
“I think a lot about the alleged victim, but about everyone in there,” she added. It’s a difficult situation. It’s difficult to answer. It seems like there is never a right answer. »
The alleged sexual assault allegedly took place in 2012 in Hartford, Connecticut. The allegations were made by an American figure skating coach and ex-skater who was 22 years old at the time. Sorensen was 23 years old.
Sorensen could not specify the timelines for the investigation in this case.
The situation is in the hands of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner of Canada (OSIC) and the Center for SafeSport in the United States.
The OSIC was established in June 2022 as an independent body aimed at handling complaints and reports of abuse and mistreatment in sport.
“We have selection criteria that have been known for a long time,” said Skate Canada CEO Debra Armstrong. We select the team based on these criteria, and that’s what we did. »
“ [L’OSIC] is an independent organization and we are part of the program. The file will be managed entirely independently,” she added.
Still waiting for a clear explanation
Canadian athletes also hope to see another court bring them justice soon.
Skate Canada has asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the decision of the International Skating Union (ISU) and amend the results of the team figure skating competition at the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games.
The CAS disqualified Valieva for sports doping last month. However, the Canadian challenger is eyeing the bronze medal, after the Russians were demoted to third place from fourth – after the points that had been awarded to Valieva were withdrawn.
The ISU was forced by the CAS verdict handed down on January 29 to cede first place in the team competition to the United States, followed by Japan in second.
“Rules are rules and they should be followed,” said Roman Sadovsky, who was part of the Canadian team in Beijing. Here, it seems that we are in a gray area. Everyone I have spoken to so far has been unable to give a good reason for the decision that was made. »
The ISU took away Valieva’s points – she could get a maximum of 10 points for the short and free programs – but did not add a single point to the totals of the other teams who moved up the competition rankings .
The ISU’s decision therefore limited Canada to fourth place, just one point behind Russia.
“We are all working very hard in the hope of having a safe and clean sport,” Sadovsky said. It’s important to have lodged this appeal and yes, a medal would be incredible and a great reward for all our efforts. »