Psychological violence. Verbal attacks. Public humiliation. Gross attacks on human dignity.
This is how the methods of former Gatineau Swimming club head coach Brian Kelly are described, in a devastating report produced by the government body responsible for handling complaints in sport, the Integrity Protection Committee (IPC). The evidence collected by the ICC from 19 athletes, assistant coaches and parents is overwhelming. So much so that the Quebec Swimming Federation has just banned Brian Kelly indefinitely.
It was 104.7 Outaouais which first broadcast the story on Wednesday. I subsequently obtained a copy of the confidential report, which is dated November 17. It’s about insults. Of denigrations. Of humiliations. Outbursts of anger. Abuse of power. Of negligence. Often, towards young adolescents. An example: “Why do you continue breaststroke? Looking at you makes me suffer,” he said to a young swimmer, in front of his teammates.
Three parents, two swimmers and a coach – all named in the document – stressed that Brian Kelly gave “no credibility to the injuries or discomfort of athletes, even when justified by medical notes”. The report cites a coach who describes seeing a young athlete swimming with a broken foot. “ [M. Kelly] gloried and was proud of this kind of situation. When medical notes were presented to him, he generally dismissed them as fake. »
Several complainants claimed to have been threatened with reprisals. “The respondent used the threat of expulsion from the sports-studies program quite frequently,” underlines the CPI. A former club coach says that after swimmers filed a complaint against Brian Kelly, he confided to her and another colleague: “ I’m going to fucking destroy them. » I will destroy them. She herself claims to have been targeted by threats. “I will block you everywhere in Canada. You will never be able to coach again. »
Still according to the CPI, Brian Kelly wanted to isolate athletes from the rest of the team, or even from their parents. He refused to let his athletes go to other swimmers to comfort them after a poor performance. And when one of his own athletes failed to achieve his goals, he could ignore and isolate him.
A certain climate of fear and manipulation seemed to reign in the club, and the athletes often feared the respondent’s reactions.
Extract from the report of the Integrity Protection Committee
After hearing 19 complainants, four additional witnesses, consulting medical notes, training recordings and emails, the commissioners severely denounced the behavior of the former head coach of Natation Gatineau, who retired a few weeks.
“The seriousness of the actions committed by the respondent cannot be underestimated. Verbal attacks, threats and deliberate discrimination against certain athletes have created a climate of terror and insecurity. These actions are not just minor deviations, but blatant attacks on human dignity, in complete contradiction with the ethical and moral standards of sport.
“It is imperative to highlight the devastating consequences on the mental well-being of athletes and assistant coaches […] Promising talents have been hindered, potential careers have been compromised, and the potential for sporting success has been seriously compromised. »
Observations supported by this statement from a former club coach. “Medical tickets for young people are increasing, attrition is visible, there are 35 swimmers left in sports studies, which represents attrition of more than 50%. The club’s rankings are in free fall. »
The CPI explains that it is particularly troubled by “the repeated nature of the abusive behavior”, which extends from 2016 to 2023. “The multiple testimonies converge towards the indisputable conclusion that the deplorable acts of the coach were neither isolated nor the fruit exceptional circumstances. Instead, they had sadly become a constant, shaping a culture of insidious abuse. »
And it continues, like that, for around thirty paragraphs. Some excerpts:
· “The ICC concludes categorically that [Brian Kelly] not only psychologically harassed, but also carried out psychological violence against athletes and assistant coaches. »
· “The respondent regularly undermined the development of athletes’ self-esteem by using demeaning and denigrating language. »
· “The evidence reveals a repeated pattern of abusive behavior, characterized by verbal attacks, public humiliation, and a series of intimidation tactics aimed at instilling a climate of fear. »
What did Brian Kelly say in his defense?
Nothing.
In fact, he attended the first sessions of the ICC, to hear the complainants. Except he never showed up for his own audition. “Following numerous attempts by the ICC to contact the respondent, he is deemed to have given up submitting a defense,” conclude the commissioners.
Without the work of host Michel Langevin, from 104.7 Outaouais, this story would probably never have come out.
For what ?
Because CPI reports are confidential. This is also indicated at the top right of each page of the document, in capital letters. CONFIDENTIAL. It is repeated in bold letters on the last page: “This decision is confidential, final and without appeal.” The parties involved – the complainants, the respondent, the federation – are all bound by secrecy.
I assure you: this is not to hide the weeds under the flower pot. On the contrary. The CPI is a very good idea. One of Minister Isabelle Charest’s best moves. Complaints are now managed by an independent organization, rather than by people in the community. This reduces the risks of cronyism, conflicts of interest and proximity.
Take the case of Brian Kelly. Parents, athletes and coaches wanted to file complaints. The Quebec Swimming Federation redirected them to the Complaints Officer, charged by the government with receiving grievances. The Officer then forwarded the file to the ICC, which handles the case, listens to the witnesses and makes recommendations. Everything was done according to the rules of the art. At the same time, the federation launched an external investigation to improve the governance of its clubs.
The problem is that once the work of the CPI is completed, neither a club nor a federation can reveal the contents of the report. This is prohibited, “to respect the confidentiality of personal information,” I was told. This is why we hear so little about the CPI.
Without leaks to the media, everything would happen in total confidentiality. It is not normal.
OK, I understand the principle for the plaintiffs. No one wants the names of adolescent victims of abuse to appear in the public arena. Afterwards, there are ways to avoid this. By redacting information that identifies the complainants, for example.
I also understand the issues surrounding false allegations, which would be rejected by the ICC. These cases could remain confidential.
But in the case of a sanctioned coach? Worse, expelled for life? It would be in the public interest. Disclosure of the ICC’s conclusions would allow federations of other sports, as well as those of other provinces, to immediately identify candidates who have caused harm elsewhere – which is not currently the case.
The Quebec government wants to give more teeth to the CPI as well as the Complaints Officer. It’s timely. A review of the Sports Safety Act will be filed in the coming weeks. Let’s hope that someone, somewhere, finds a solution to better disseminate the CPI’s recommendations.
Everyone would gain.
Except those who act like Brian Kelly.