Attorneys representing sexually abused athletes
You are not alone if you, as an athlete, have been the target of sexual abuse or sexual assault. According to USA Swimming training documents, some experts suggest that as many as 20% of children in competitive sports are at risk of abuse or exploitation. But that percentage may be too low. A large-scale study with over 6,000 undergraduates aged 18–22 years revealed that 29% of the respondents experienced sexual abuse when they were child athletes.
read moreWhy sexual abuse or assault happens in sport
Sport is the ideal environment for sexual abuse since it is viewed as a “sacred” part of our culture. Consequently, behavior that is usually unacceptable is now acceptable, such as coaches being able to touch children as part of their work while enjoying the parents’ trust. Combine the touching with the ample time shared by the coach and the young athlete along with the authority that the coach has over the athlete, and you can see why children in sport are especially vulnerable to sexual abuse.
Holding sports organizations accountable for sexual abuse and sexual assault
Research indicates that sexual assault and sexual abuse are major problems in sport that need to be tackled through prevention and athlete education. Yet, few organizations even make an effort to prevent sexual abuse. For example, USA Swimming and the USOC have been pressured for years to make prevention a priority. They continue to refuse to make changes to protect athletes.
Sexual abuse begins with a process called grooming. The perpetrator begins by targeting his victim and slowly begins to cross boundaries. It may be a tap to the rear, a hug, a massage, special attention, or gifts. The boundary-crossing continues until the perpetrator has the complete confidence of the victim and then proceeds to sexual abuse.
Our sexual abuse legal team believes you
Revealing being a victim of sexual violence seems to be challenging for the person who has experienced abuse. There is a shame, guilt, and embarrassment. And if you are a male, there is the problem of your masculinity being questioned. When one does come forward, there is the issue of will I be believed? And the case of the perpetrator making threats and facing the consequences from those protecting the perp.
No sport is immune to sexual abuse, or sexual assault as recent sexual crimes by doctors and coaches have occurred in:
- USA Swimming
- Youth Soccer
- Taekwondo
- Track & Field
- Wrestling
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Volleyball
- Tennis
- Hockey
- USA Gymnastics
Attorneys Robert Allard and Stephen Estey use the law to hold sports organizations, coaches, doctors, and athletes accountable for athletes’ sexual abuse or sexual assault. Through years of representing sexual abuse victims, Allard and Estey recognize that childhood sexual abuse results in lifelong harm and is a significant risk factor for depression, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual disorders, and suicidal ideation.
Contact Athlete Abuse Attorneys now! Protect your legal rights.
Contact us at 800-474-5201 or by email at [email protected] if you have been sexually abused or sexually assaulted. The phone call or the email is 100% confidential.