Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Sørensen faced a minimum suspension of six years due to accusations of 'sexual misconduct.'
The prohibition follows an investigation by the OSIC into allegations against Sørensen of a 2012 sexual assault against an American figure skater and coach, as confirmed by the alleged victim's lawyer, former Olympic champion swimmer Nancy Hogshead, to CNN.
This matter is listed on the OSIC's 'Abuse-Free Sport' portal and is subject to challenge or appeal. Sørensen has the chance to reapply for reassessment after 6 years.
The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) informed CNN that both parties have 21 days to file an appeal with the Safeguarding Tribunal of the SDRCC.
It remains unclear if this alleged incident was ever reported to police or if a law enforcement investigation ever took place.
CNN reached out to Sørensen for additional comments.
In an Instagram post in January, he vowed to fully cooperate with the investigation, stating, "These allegations are false, and I intend to strongly defend myself and my reputation."
Skate Canada stated that it was made aware of the decision from Abuse-Free Sport and is taking necessary steps to comply with it.
The International Skating Union (ISU) disclosed that it is withdrawing Sørensen from all ISU-recognized competitions and is "taking all necessary measures to comply with the decision of ineligibility for an indefinite period."
The ISU emphasized that all athletes have the right to participate in sport within a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment, free from discrimination, harassment, abuse, violence, neglect, or exploitation.
The alleged victim expressed gratitude for the support she has received in a statement sent to CNN by her attorney. She emphasized the importance of approaching abuse matters with extreme caution and patience.
She further stated, "I hope the respondent will be able to finally take accountability for his actions and seek help to become a safe member of society outside of our sport."
She noted that she was distressed by the supportive comments made about the respondent on air, which she perceived as belittling the experiences of rape survivors and promoting a harmful culture of silence in the sport.
Hogshead confirmed to CNN that the OSIC investigation stemmed from an incident when her client was 22 and Sørensen was 23.
While the report made by the alleged victim to the OSIC has not been made publicly available, Hogshead informed CNN that the alleged sexual assault occurred after a party in Hartford, Connecticut, in 2012.
Hogshead, who runs a non-profit legal advocacy organization for girls and women in sports, commended her client's professionalism, her detailed recounting of the harrowing night, and her persistence throughout the 14 1/2-month process.
She stated, "Sexual abusers have no place in sport. While most people agree with that statement, in practice, it remains challenging to remove those found to have engaged in sexual misconduct."
"My client would not have come forward, except that she saw Nikolaj Sørensen was moving into coaching figure skaters and would pose a risk to many more girls and women, who would be unaware of the danger they were facing."
She concluded that the process was arduous for her client but encouraged by the fact that ultimately, the skating community was becoming safer and that Sørensen was being banned. Moreover, she was hopeful that more abused skaters would come forward; figure skating was still grappling with a culture of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.
The OSIC did not provide a comment when contacted by CNN.
In his Instagram post in January, Sørensen wrote, "I believe that every person should feel safe and protected on and off the ice. A positive and supportive environment in sports is crucial for all of us."
He also said in the post that he and his skating partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry would withdraw from the Canadian National and Skating Championships that month, as their participation might prove distracting.
The duo later returned to action at the 2024 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai, China, in early February and finished in the ice dance.
Sørensen competed at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, finishing ninth in the ice dance competition with Beaudry.
The prohibition of Sørensen's participation in sports events is listed under the OSIC's 'Abuse-Free Sport' portal's ongoing cases. Despite the ban, Sørensen remains passionate about promoting a safe and inclusive environment in sports, as expressed in his Instagram post.
