The national governing body of racquetball has fired its chief executive after he faced a suspension and probation from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the independent organization that seeks to end all forms of abuse in sports.
Jason Thoerner, USA Racquetball’s executive director, had been investigated for undisclosed allegations of misconduct, leading to a decision to discipline him June 28, according to SafeSport records. His departure comes just five months after he replied to a letter from Congress investigating the abuse and sexual misconduct scandals roiling Olympic sports.
More: Bob Bowman's gross behavior forces Arizona State leaders to decide what's next
More: Aly Raisman rebuffed by new U.S. Olympic Committee CEO in first meeting
“I appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions related to the safety of USA Racquetball’s membership as we take this issue with the highest importance,” Thoerner wrote in his letter in February to Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. “As a small NGB, we are appreciative of the guidance that the Center for SafeSport has provided us in structuring our policies and guidelines when dealing with Athlete safety.”
The Center for SafeSport does not provide details of investigations as a matter of policy. In Thoerner’s case, SafeSport records only listed him as having made a “proactive policy violation” involving ethical standards in a case that was subject to appeal.
USA Racquetball said his departure was effective July 11, the same day that USA Racquetball also fired its national events and programs manager, Nick Irvine. Irvine since has indicated his firing was in retaliation for filing a complaint with SafeSport.
“I was fired several days after my … Safe Sport case that I filed came back and found one person guilty,” Irvine wrote on Facebook last week. “Then they fire me before the other two issues were investigated and hence why I was fired wrongfully.”
Irvine told USA TODAY Sports that SafeSport has reopened the case he filed and that he could not disclose additional details because the case is pending. He also has filed a complaint against USA Racquetball with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which declined to divulge details about it.
Thoerner, 44, didn’t return a message seeking comment. Dan Whitley, the president of USA Racquetball’s governing board, also didn’t return messages seeking comment.
Thoerner was hired as USA Racquetball’s executive director in October 2016 after previously serving as president of the organization’s board of directors. USA Racquetball is the national governing body of the sport for the U.S. Olympic Committee.
“Jason Thoerner was sanctioned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in June 2018 and USA Racquetball ended his oversight of the organization shortly after,” the USOC said in a statement. “USA Racquetball is currently underway with a search for a new executive director.”
When asked about the type of violation listed for Thoerner, SafeSport spokeswoman Kate Brannen referred USA TODAY Sports to SafeSport rules that say an NGB “may adopt proactive policies that … set standards for professional boundaries, minimize the appearance of impropriety and have the effect of preventing boundary violations and prohibiting grooming tactics.” It is against SafeSport rules to violate such policies.
The discipline of a high-ranking official in a national governing body highlights a big reason the Center for SafeSport was created and opened last year – because NGBs had a conflict when it came to policing themselves, tempting them to cover up scandals instead of protecting members.
SafeSport fields complaints, investigates them and issues discipline such as suspensions and permanent bans. It seeks to end abuse in sports, including bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.
The firings of Thoerner and Irvine leaves USA Racquetball with just one staff member and an office assistant, according to its website. Though its headquarters are in Colorado Springs, Thoerner worked out of Georgia, and Irvine worked out of Northern California.
On Saturday it advertised its requirements for a new executive director, including that he or she “complete SafeSport training” before being hired. This week, Moran and Blumenthal led a hearing in the U.S. Senate about protecting athletes, which included discussions about SafeSport.
The national governing body of racquetball has fired its chief executive after he faced a suspension and probation from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the independent organization that seeks to end all forms of abuse in sports.
Jason Thoerner, USA Racquetball’s executive director, had been investigated for undisclosed allegations of misconduct, leading to a decision to discipline him June 28, according to SafeSport records. His departure comes just five months after he replied to a letter from Congress investigating the abuse and sexual misconduct scandals roiling Olympic sports.
More: Bob Bowman's gross behavior forces Arizona State leaders to decide what's next
More: Aly Raisman rebuffed by new U.S. Olympic Committee CEO in first meeting
“I appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions related to the safety of USA Racquetball’s membership as we take this issue with the highest importance,” Thoerner wrote in his letter in February to Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. “As a small NGB, we are appreciative of the guidance that the Center for SafeSport has provided us in structuring our policies and guidelines when dealing with Athlete safety.”
The Center for SafeSport does not provide details of investigations as a matter of policy. In Thoerner’s case, SafeSport records only listed him as having made a “proactive policy violation” involving ethical standards in a case that was subject to appeal.
USA Racquetball said his departure was effective July 11, the same day that USA Racquetball also fired its national events and programs manager, Nick Irvine. Irvine since has indicated his firing was in retaliation for filing a complaint with SafeSport.
“I was fired several days after my … Safe Sport case that I filed came back and found one person guilty,” Irvine wrote on Facebook last week. “Then they fire me before the other two issues were investigated and hence why I was fired wrongfully.”
Irvine told USA TODAY Sports that SafeSport has reopened the case he filed and that he could not disclose additional details because the case is pending. He also has filed a complaint against USA Racquetball with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which declined to divulge details about it.
Thoerner, 44, didn’t return a message seeking comment. Dan Whitley, the president of USA Racquetball’s governing board, also didn’t return messages seeking comment.
Thoerner was hired as USA Racquetball’s executive director in October 2016 after previously serving as president of the organization’s board of directors. USA Racquetball is the national governing body of the sport for the U.S. Olympic Committee.
“Jason Thoerner was sanctioned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in June 2018 and USA Racquetball ended his oversight of the organization shortly after,” the USOC said in a statement. “USA Racquetball is currently underway with a search for a new executive director.”
When asked about the type of violation listed for Thoerner, SafeSport spokeswoman Kate Brannen referred USA TODAY Sports to SafeSport rules that say an NGB “may adopt proactive policies that … set standards for professional boundaries, minimize the appearance of impropriety and have the effect of preventing boundary violations and prohibiting grooming tactics.” It is against SafeSport rules to violate such policies.
The discipline of a high-ranking official in a national governing body highlights a big reason the Center for SafeSport was created and opened last year – because NGBs had a conflict when it came to policing themselves, tempting them to cover up scandals instead of protecting members.
SafeSport fields complaints, investigates them and issues discipline such as suspensions and permanent bans. It seeks to end abuse in sports, including bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.
The firings of Thoerner and Irvine leaves USA Racquetball with just one staff member and an office assistant, according to its website. Though its headquarters are in Colorado Springs, Thoerner worked out of Georgia, and Irvine worked out of Northern California.
On Saturday it advertised its requirements for a new executive director, including that he or she “complete SafeSport training” before being hired. This week, Moran and Blumenthal led a hearing in the U.S. Senate about protecting athletes, which included discussions about SafeSport.
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "New Olympic scandal: USA Racquetball fires executive director"
Post a Comment