Quebec is launching an administrative investigation in the wake of allegations of physical abuse, psychological harassment, verbal abuse and sexual assault perpetrated by a women’s basketball coach, the government announced on Friday.
This interdepartmental investigation aims to shed light on this extremely worrying situation in school basketball, according to a press release.
An overall portrait of the situation will be drawn up and additional actions to be taken can be determined.
The administration, organization and operation of schools and sports organizations concerned will be targeted.
“Athletes deserve to be able to practice their sports safely, in a healthy and respectful environment. It is our responsibility to turn every stone, to shed light on these allegations and to ensure that the mechanisms in place are effective in order to prevent this type of event and to protect the integrity of our young people”, specifies the Minister responsible for Sports, Recreation and the Outdoors, Isabelle Charest, in the press release.
The Minister of Education, Bernard Drainville, indicates that “there is no compromise to be made on the safety of students within the network”.
“The Quebec of tomorrow must be able to count on all its talents and I will never accept that such acts harm the development of the student community,” commented the Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry.
Several cases have splashed the middle of school basketball in the past year. A player testified on Friday, on the TVA program “JE”, to manipulations by her coach at Du Rocher high school in Shawinigan and at Cégep Édouard-Montpetit in Longueuil.
Earlier this year, three female basketball coaches from Saint-Laurent High School in Montreal were arrested and charged with counts of sexual exploitation, sexual assault, sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching notably.
People who have been victims of abuse, harassment, neglect or violence in a sporting context can contact Sport’Aide at 1 833 211-AIDE (2433).