Harassment and abuse

International

• International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport, opens in a new tab, United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), (2015). The International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport is a rights-based reference that orients and supports policy- and decision-making in sport. It promotes inclusive access to sport by all without any form of discrimination. It sets ethical and quality standards for all actors designing, implementing and evaluating sport programmes and policies. Highlights that "concerted action and co-operation between stakeholders at all levels is the prerequisite for protecting the integrity and potential benefits of physical education, physical activity and sport from discrimination, racism, homophobia, bullying, doping, manipulation, excessive training of children, sexual exploitation, trafficking, as well as violence."

International

• FEPSAC position statement on safeguarding athletes in sport, opens in a new tab, Anastasiya Khomutova, Stiliani Ani Chroni, Emma Kavanagh, et al., Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 80, 102897, (2025). In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the academic research on interpersonal violence (IV) and safeguarding in sport in a European context, focusing on safeguarding athletes. The position statement further includes recommendations and practical guidelines that will equip readers with knowledge and processes for recognising and responding to IV in sport. Through enhancing safeguarding literacy among FEPSAC members, we aim to inspire and empower both neophyte and more experienced practitioners in sport and exercise psychology toward fostering safer sporting relationships, spaces and practices.
• IOC consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport, opens in a new tab, Tuakli-Wosornu YA, Burrows K, Fasting K, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1322-1344, (2024). This evidence review and consensus process elucidated the characterisation and complexity of IV and safeguarding in sport and demonstrates that a whole-of-system approach is needed to fully comprehend and prevent IV. Sport settings that emphasise mutual care, are athlete centred, promote healthy relationships, embed trauma- and violence-informed care principles, integrate diverse perspectives and measure IV prevention and response effectiveness will exemplify safe sport. A shared responsibility between all within the sports ecosystem is required to advance effective safeguarding through future research, policy and practice.

International

• Integrity and Compliance Hotline, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (accessed 26 February 2026). The Hotline can be used to report suspicious approaches or activities related to competition manipulation; incidents when you feel that you may have been the victim of, or have witnessed, an incident of harassment and/or abuse during the Olympic Games; report infringements of the IOC Code of Ethics or other matters, including financial misconduct or further legal, regulatory and ethical breaches over which the IOC has jurisdiction; report press freedom violations journalists and media representatives working on Olympic Games-related coverage may have experienced.
• Safe Sport Unit, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (accessed 26 February 2026). The Safe Sport Unit, established in 2022, has introduced a range of programmes and initiatives at Youth and Olympic Games, as well as broader initiatives beyond events including the IOC Safeguarding Toolkit for IFs and NOCs and the IOC Mental Health in Elite Athlete’s Toolkit, which help NOCs and IFs develop and implement policies and procedures in this field.
• Safeguarding Officer in Sport Certificate, opens in a new tab, sportsoracle for the International Olympic Committee, (accessed 26 February 2026). A distance learning program to equip those involved with safeguarding athletes of all ages from harassment and abuse (interpersonal violence) in sport with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to fulfill the role of Safeguarding Officer/Focal point for their sport organisation.

Australian

• Common Issues, opens in a new tab, Play by the Rules, (accessed 25 February 2026). Tips sheets, guidance and resources, developed in partnership with experts in integrity and community sport, to help navigate challenging issues in your club or association. Some resources include: Sideline behaviour; Community child safe sport; Child safe principles, legislation and resources; Child abuse disclosures; Child safety; Online abuse; Bullying; Taking and sharing images in sport; and more.
• Coach-athlete relationships, opens in a new tab, Sport Integrity Australia (accessed 26 February 2026). All sports want healthy, safe and positive relationships between coaches and athletes. Learn about how to identify healthy and unhealth coach-athlete relationships.
• True Sport, opens in a new tab, Sport West, (accessed 3 March 2026). Provides education and resources for athletes, coaches and organisations, promoting fair play and fostering positive environments in sport across WA. Initiatives cover a broad range of issues including Child safeguarding, Mental health and wellbeing, Sideline behaviour, Respectful relationships, and Cultural education.
• Safe to Speak, Bound to Act: A toolkit for safer sport, opens in a new tab, SaferSport, (2026). An evidence-based, survivor-informed toolkit designed to help National Sporting Organisations, State Sporting Associations and clubs respond safely and effectively to disclosures and reports of gender-based violence. Developed through research, policy analysis, and interviews with policy developers as well as women and gender-diverse people who have experienced gender-based violence in sport, this resource provides practical, trauma-informed guidance to strengthen reporting pathways and create safer sporting environments.
• Safe and Inclusive Sport: Preventing gender-based violence: A guide to support gender equity and the prevention of gender-based violence through sport, opens in a new tab, Sport and Recreation Victoria, (2024). The guide provides 10 guiding principles, case studies and practical tools to support state sporting associations, regional sports assemblies, women’s health and community health services, local councils, and other organisations work together to develop and implement prevention of gender-based violence projects in community sport settings.

International

• Safe Sport, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (accessed 26 February 2026). Information for athletes and organisations on creating safe environments where athletes can train and compete in healthy and supportive surroundings; an environment which is respectful, equitable, and free from all forms of harassment and abuse.
• SAFER (Support & Awareness for Female fans in European football through Research, prevention, and remedy) - A Handbook on Project Outcomes and Good Practice Recommendations, opens in a new tab, Football Supporters Europe, (2025). This report delineates the findings of the SAFER project, the first systematic, mixed-methods investigation into GBV within European football fandom. The research integrates quantitative data from 884 survey respondents across nine countries with qualitative insights from in-depth interviews with fans and experts. The objective is to move beyond mere quantification to elucidate the mechanisms and experiences of violence, thereby providing an evidence base for the development of effective preventative and remedial interventions.
• Human Rights Playbook, opens in a new tab, Centre for Sport and Human Rights, (2024). A suite of guidance documents designed to help sport bodies and event organisers implement human rights due diligence.
• Tackling violence against women and girls in sport: A handbook for policy makers and sports practitioners, opens in a new tab, UNESCO and UN Women, (2023). Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most pervasive human rights challenges in the world today and is rooted in gender inequality, discrimination, and harmful cultural and social norms that emphasize men’s superiority over women and normalize violence toward women. This Handbook aims to create a shared understanding of the problem, offer practical tools for addressing VAWG in sport, and propose areas for effective collaboration. This handbook is aimed at sports practitioners and policy makers wishing to address VAWG in sport.
  • Towards a Safer Playing Field: Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport, opens in a new tab, UNESCO, (2024). This 10-point Call for Action builds upon the strategies and resources outlined in UNESCO and UN Women's Handbook on Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport, supported by the UN Spotlight Initiative.
• Mental Health in Elite Athletes Toolkit, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (2021). This toolkit is aimed at assisting Olympic Movement stakeholders, including International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), athletes’ entourage members, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders such as National Federations (NFs), clubs and teams, to develop and implement initiatives related to the protection and promotion of mental health and well-being in elite athletes.
• IOC Athlete Safeguarding Webinar Series for International Federations, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (2019). This series, consisting of 10 two-hour webinars, was open to all International Federations of sports on the Summer and Winter Olympic programmes, and was presented between September and November 2019. Each session, led by some of the world’s leading experts in the field of child protection and athlete safeguarding, focuses on the common challenges faced by sports organisations looking to build policy and implement athlete safeguarding measures.
• Safeguarding athletes from harassment and abuse in sport: IOC Toolkit for IFs and NOCs, opens in a new tab, International Olympic Committee, (2017). This toolkit aims to assist National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) in the development of policies and procedures to safeguard athletes from harassment and abuse in sport.

• Female athletes found to fear 'nothing is going to happen' when speaking out on gender-based violence, opens in a new tab, Amanda Shalala, ABC, (26 February 2026). Kareema Wakim was in her mid-teens when she made her first national senior team for moguls skiing, earning an overseas trip.
• Disability, Safety & Sport, opens in a new tab, Stephanie Dixon, Danielle Peers, Elisabeth Walker-Young, et al., SIRC, (18 February 2026). There is a lot of focus on safe(r) sport recently and, for the most part, suggested solutions have tended to be “one size fits all.” But there are many kinds of sporting harms disabled people face that are different from non-disabled athletes. This brief article (and our full report) tries to address the massive gap in research and practice related to safety concerns for disabled people in sport.
• Elite sportswomen have shared their stories, and these are the hard truths, opens in a new tab, Amanda Shalala, ABC, (12 January 2026). Many athletes in women's sport have told us that they are underpaid, discriminated against, and mistreated in a landmark study conducted by ABC Sport. Athletes were asked for their views on a range of topics including earnings, discrimination, health and wellbeing, resourcing and support, with responses from 152 current and recently retired athletes across 47 sports, including multi-sport athletes. Key findings included: A majority of athletes have witnessed and/or experienced racism, sexual harassment or violence, and discrimination based on their gender, sexuality, or disability; Many athletes are dealing with negative feelings around their body image, and nearly half have experienced an eating disorder/disordered eating; 32% have been trolled on social media, and 87 per cent have seen other athletes abused online.
• ABC Elite Athletes in Australian Women's Sport Survey: Results summary, opens in a new tab, ABC, (12 January 2026). ABC Sport has released the results of its Elite Athletes in Australian Women's Sport Survey, in partnership with Deakin University. It is based on the BBC's Elite British Sportswomen's Study. Here is a summary of the findings, based on 152 responses from elite athletes spanning 47 sports (including some participating in multiple sports).
• New research shows councils hold the key to ending abuse in kids’ sport, opens in a new tab, Monash University, (4 December 2025). New research from Monash University raises questions about the effectiveness of current approaches to stopping abuse and discrimination in children’s sport, and highlights how local councils could play a pivotal role in protecting children from harm.
• Social Protect rolled out to NBL / WNBL with collaborative partnership, opens in a new tab, Basketball Australia, (26 November 2025). The National Basketball League (NBL) and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) alongside Basketball Australia (BA) today announced a new partnership with Social Protect, an online safety platform helping athletes, teams and organisations protect themselves from social media abuse and harmful online interactions.
• Japan Acts to Protect Athletes from Abuse, opens in a new tab, Human Rights Watch, Hanna Yumura, Human Rights Watch, (13 June 2025). Four years after hosting the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, Japan is finally taking action to protect athletes from abuse in sport. This month, the Japanese National Diet passed a revision to the Basic Act on Sport (2011), requiring the national and local governments to adopt measures against any form of physical or sexual abuse, and against verbal and other abuse when committed by coaches and others in positions of power.
• What parents and youth athletes can do to protect against abuse in sport, opens in a new tab, Fanny Kuhlin, Jessica Lee, Natalie Barker-Ruchti, Steven Rynne, The Conversation, (3 June 2025). While sport can have many wonderful benefits for young people, it can also have a dark side, one where abuse can flourish, leading to serious psychological and physical harm. How can parents ensure their children are safe?
• RLPA survey finds NRLW players experience twice as much abuse as NRL counterparts, opens in a new tab, David Mark, ABC, (17 December 2024). A survey has shown NRLW players receive twice as much online abuse as their male counterparts in the NRL and two in three do not report incidents.
• World Athletics publishes findings of study into online abuse of athletes covering Paris Olympic Games, opens in a new tab, (1 November 2024). Fourth major study into online abuse raises concerns over continued levels of abuse of a racist or sexual nature. Key findings: Racism and sexualised abuse continue to be used to target athletes, making up more than 48% of the results; 809 total posts were verified as abusive, with 128 posts and comments (16%) escalated to the relevant platform for additional action; 1,917 athletes with at least one active account were monitored for online abuse during the Paris Games across four social media platforms – 12 times the size sampled during the Tokyo Olympics.
• Abuse in Indian Wrestling Exposes Need for Global Hotline, opens in a new tab, Sport & Rights Alliance, (23 July 2024). The report, “We Were Only Demanding Justice”: Sexual Abuse in Indian Wrestling Federation, details the pattern of sexual harassment and violence suffered by athletes during the 12-year tenure of then-President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Singh, who was also a Parliament member with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the time.
• The 3 changes Australian sport must make after Volleyball Australia’s shocking abuse report, opens in a new tab, Natalie Galea, Mary Woessner, Victoria Roberts, The Conversation, (31 July 2024). The Paris Olympics has commenced with much excitement as fans soak in athletic achievements, medal counts and inspiring stories of success and triumph. While we celebrate these accomplishments, we must also consider the price paid for these medals. Not the cost in terms of money – the human cost. The physical and psychological toll of what athletes must endure in sport environments.
• Football’s referee crisis: we asked thousands of refs about the abuse and violence that’s driving them out of the game, opens in a new tab, Tom Webb, Harjit Sekhon, The Conversation, (13 June 2024). One of the two English referees at this year’s Euros, Michael Oliver, was subjected to particularly shocking abuse, including death threats, after awarding a last-minute penalty in a Champions League quarter-final in April 2018. And it wasn’t only him: Oliver’s wife Lucy, also a referee, was sent abusive text messages after her mobile phone number was posted on social media.
• Sports federations urged to do more to safeguard athletes, opens in a new tab, Marcus Hoy, Play the Game, (23 February 2024). A session at Play the Game 2024 outlined several problems when it comes to protecting athletes. Research shows that many athletes do not report cases of sextortion and inappropriate behaviour because they believe nothing will be done, and Global Athletes called IOC safeguarding processes inadequate.
• Less than half of Australian children who experience violence in sport tell an adult, world-first study finds, opens in a new tab, Natasha May, The Guardian, (23 October 2023). Normalisation of violence in sport, like ‘tough love’ coaching, has discouraged children from speaking up, experts say.
• “I feel (un)safe when…”: What athletes have to say about high performance culture, opens in a new tab, Eric MacIntosh, Shannon Kerwin, Alison Doherty, SIRCuit, (25 July 2022). In this article, researchers present their findings about Canadian high performance athletes’ perspectives on safe and unsafe sport environments, as well as recommendations for changes. Athletes identified coach behaviour, teammate or fellow athlete behaviour, lack of resources and an inattentive sport system as key factors contributing to unsafe sporting environments. Implementing initiatives to target these issues can support the shift to a safer sport environment (for example, requiring coaches to undertake self-awareness and self-regulation training that promote safe coach behaviour).

• Hear me play: Youth perceptions of safety in sport - 2025 survey results, opens in a new tab, Sport Integrity Australia, (2026). This first report from the Youth Perceptions of Safety in Sport Study shares the findings from the 2025 annual survey, completed by more than 1,000 young people aged 12 to 18 from across Australia.
  • 93% felt safe in sport always or most of the time.
  • 12% of those who had previously engaged in non-playing roles in sport had stopped because they experienced abuse/lack of respect by athletes, coaches, parents, or spectators.
  • 27% reported witnessing bullying in their sport, and around 10% reported feeling bullied as a reason for dropping out of a sport.
  • 92% said they would be willing to report inappropriate behaviour to someone they trusted, most frequently a parent or coach.
• Positive Behaviours in Sport Snapshot 2025, opens in a new tab, Sport Integrity Australia, (2025). A snapshot of results from the first 12 months of the Positive Behaviours in Sport Study that is being conducted over a period of five years between 2024-2028 to seek thoughts and feedback from coaches and participants/athletes around what they think about the fairness and safety of sport in Australia and provide insight into the current level of knowledge Australians have in relation to sport integrity issues.
  • 88% of athletes and 87% of coaches felt Australian sport was safe and fair for everyone.
  • 44% of athletes and 60% of coaches were confident of locating their sport’s integrity policies.
  • In the previous 12 months, participants were more likely to report witnessing poor behaviour than experiencing it. Athletes most reported experiencing body shaming (7%) and verbal abuse (7%), while coaches reported experiencing more verbal abuse (17%) and bullying (11%).
  • Compared to the average for all athletes, national and international level athletes were more likely to report having a coach aggressively yell at them (36% v 21% avg) and/or belittle, humiliate, threaten or frighten them (26% v 10% avg).
• A world of sport free from racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, opens in a new tab, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, (2025). Pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 54/25, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights outlines progress made in the implementation of that resolution, providing information on measures taken by States, sports associations and federations and other stakeholders against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in and through sports. The High Commissioner presents recommendations on achieving a world of sport free from those scourges.
• Online Abuse in Sport Barometer 2025, opens in a new tab, United Against Online Abuse (UAOA), (2025). The second edition of the Barometer report is based on an extensive survey of 18 international sporting federations to research and track how online abuse is impacting athletes, competitors, officials and referees in various sporting disciplines across the world. Key findings from the federations surveyed included:
  • 50% of all abuse directed at athletes and competitors was misogynistic or racist.
  • 75% reported continued threats against competitors and their families.
  • 50% said volunteers and officials now face routine online abuse.
  • 90% agreed that abuse could force athletes to leave their sport.
  • 33% already had a formal plan in place to address online abuse in their sport; around 38% did not but were in the process of developing one.
  • Around 22% were already using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to detect and remove instances of online abuse against participants in their sport, another 11% were in discussions with service providers to do so.
• The Players' Pulse: The RLPA's Annual Player Survey & Findings Report, opens in a new tab, Rugby League Players Association, (2025). Over 800 NRL and NRLW players completed the RLPA’s annual member survey during the 2025 seasons. The Players’ Pulse survey involved over 100 questions on a range of topics from workplace environments and sponsorship deals to social media and racism. Some key findings relating to experiences of abuse and harm from athlete respondents included:
  • 13% of men's and 9% of women's players experienced targeted abuse; with 7% of men's and 5% of women's experienced racism.
  • The primary channel where abuse occurred was social media, over 80% for both men and women. For male players 63% also experienced abuse from fans at games, but this was significantly lower for female players (9%).
  • 38% of male players, and 28% of female felt pressured to continue to train with concussion symptoms.
  • In 2025, both competitions recorded a C rating for psychological safety, cultural safety was rated around a C level for the NRLW and B for NRL. While this indicates that most players do feel generally safe in their environments, it also means that fewer than 75% feel this support at a consistently high level.
• SAFER (Support & Awareness for Female fans in European football through Research, prevention, and remedy) - A Handbook on Project Outcomes and Good Practice Recommendations, opens in a new tab, Football Supporters Europe, (2025). This report delineates the findings of the SAFER project, the first systematic, mixed-methods investigation into GBV within European football fandom. The research integrates quantitative data from 884 survey respondents across nine countries with qualitative insights from in-depth interviews with fans and experts. The objective is to move beyond mere quantification to elucidate the mechanisms and experiences of violence, thereby providing an evidence base for the development of effective preventative and remedial interventions.
• “We Were Only Demanding Justice”: Sexual Abuse in Indian Wrestling Federation, opens in a new tab, Sport & Rights Alliance, (July 2024). The report details the pattern of sexual harassment and violence suffered by athletes during the 12-year tenure of then-President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Singh, who was also a Parliament member with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the time.
• Snapshot analysis: social media commentary of sportswomen and men, opens in a new tab, PLAN International, (April 2019). The snapshot analysis of social media commentary found that more than a quarter of all comments towards sportswomen were sexist, sexualised, belittled women’s sports or were otherwise negative in nature. The analysis looked at a selection of social media commentary on Facebook posts shared by major sports news broadcasters in Australia in the past 12 months, and found:
  • Sportswomen face three times as many negative comments as men, at 27% compared to 9%
  • Social media abuse of sportswomen is overwhelmingly sexist – 23% of all negative comments towards sportswomen were sexist in nature, referring to traditional gender stereotypes, while 20% belittled women’s sports, their athletic abilities and skills.
  • Sexualised comments are only aimed at sportswomen – 14% of all negative comments towards sportswomen were sexualised, compared to 0% for male athletes.
  • Whilst the majority of negative comments towards men focused on cheating or drugs, some sportsmen were also subjected to sexist abuse towards men: 15% of negative comments towards men referred to traditional gender stereotypes, which deem that they must not display weakness or emotion.

• Coach-Perpetrated Interpersonal Violence: Witnessing, Perceived Harmfulness and the Role of Coaching Motivational Climate, opens in a new tab, Stiliani “Ani” Chroni, Mary Hassandra, Helena Verhelle, et al., European Journal of Sport Science, Volume 26(1), e70113, (2026). Coach-perpetrated interpersonal violence can pose significant risks to athletes' development as well as psychological, physical and social well-being worldwide. This study examined the perceived harmfulness of witnessed coach-perpetrated interpersonal violence behaviours in the North Mediterranean region, alongside any associations with coaching climates (empowering and disempowering). Data were collected from 494 active coaches across Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain and Portugal through an online questionnaire where they reported witnessing and perceived harm of psychological, physical, instrumental and sexual violence, as well as their coaching climates. The analysis showed psychological violence as the most frequently witnessed form and physical violence being perceived as the most harmful one. An empowering coaching climate, characterised by autonomy support and positive reinforcement, correlated positively with higher perceived harm, especially for psychological and instrumental violence. Conversely, a disempowering climate, marked by control and punitive behaviours, correlated with lower perceived harm. Gender, coach education and professional status were found to influence coaches' perceptions, highlighting that cultural and structural complexities have a role towards interpersonal violence tolerance. The study underscores the critical need for culturally tailored safe sport initiatives, mandatory training of coaches in safe coaching behaviours and practices and proactive safeguarding measures to mitigate interpersonal violence across diverse sporting contexts. Culturally informed interventions need to challenge the normalisation of violence in coaching and encourage empowering climates that place athletes in the centre and prioritise their welfare.
• Sexual harassment, abuse and intimate relationships between coaches and athletes: a systematic review, opens in a new tab, Sungwon Kim, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 31(1), pp.43-63, (2026). While sexual harassment and abuse (SHA) can be perpetrated by various individuals in sport, coaches have been studied as one of the most frequent perpetrators due to their physical and emotional proximity to athletes. This systematic review attempted to evaluate the past 20 years of research (2003–2023) examining SHA and inappropriate intimate relationships between coaches and athletes. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline, 20 studies that met the eligibility criteria were identified using four databases (PubMed, PsycNET, ScienceDirect and SportDiscus). Findings reveal common thematic measures among the studies reviewed, including characteristics of SHA (n = 9), coach-athlete sexual relationships (CASR; n = 7) and grooming (n = 4). Based on the narrative synthesis of each thematic measure, SHA in sport is experienced and/or perceived as various forms of sexual misconduct, ranging from harassment (e.g. sexual jokes, unwanted comments, fondling) to abusive behaviors (e.g. kissing, showing coach's private body parts, sexual intercourse). Although some studies show the acceptance of CASR especially when athletes are above the age of legal consent, the strong majority of studies suggest that CASR in general is harmful and unacceptable given the unequal power dynamics between the two parties. Additionally, grooming was often involved as a conscious strategy to cross athletes’ personal boundaries for eventual sexual misconduct through building trust and manifesting seemingly innocuous behaviors. Overall, these findings shed light on the current state of research on SHA occurring between coaches and athletes and have implications for sport governing bodies and organizations to be better aware of the issue, which in turn can result in creating a safer environment for youth athletes.
• Applying a systems thinking lens to child sexual abuse in sport: an analysis of investigative report findings and recommendations, opens in a new tab, Karl Dodd, Paul M. Salmon, Colin Solomon, et al., Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 165, 107488, (2025). The aim of this study was to analyse investigative reports into child sexual abuse (CSA) in five Australian sports (Swimming, Cricket, Gymnastics, Football, and Tennis), to evaluate the extent to which a systems thinking approach was adopted to understand the broader systemic factors enabling CSA in sport. Factors enabling CSA detailed in the reports, as well as their accompanying recommendations, were mapped to a systems thinking-based framework. The identified enabling factors and recommendations were then evaluated to determine the extent to which a whole of systems focus had been adopted in the investigative reports. In total, 30 enabling factors to CSA were identified, with the majority focused at the higher levels of the sports system (e.g., Governance, Policy, Reporting/Handling issues etc.). This contrasts with the peer reviewed literature. The findings indicate that the identified enabling factors to CSA align with a systems thinking approach, whereas the recommendations to safeguarding partially adhere to the tenets of system thinking.
• Are some sports riskier than others? An investigation into child athlete experiences of interpersonal violence in relation to sport type and gender, opens in a new tab, Vertommen, T., Sølvberg, N., Lang, M., & Kampen, J. K., International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Volume 60(5), pp.921-945, (2025). Despite recent advances in safeguarding sport participants from interpersonal violence, empirical evidence regarding its prevalence and risk factors across different sports remains scarce. In this study, we investigated differences in the prevalence of interpersonal violence among a convenience sample of 9989 adults from six European countries who participated in organised sport before age 18. Utilising binary logistic regression analyses and CHAID regression tree analyses, we examined variations in reported experiences of neglect, psychological, physical, non-contact sexual and contact sexual forms of interpersonal violence based on gender and three sport classifications: type of sport (individual vs. team), sports attire (non-revealing vs. body-fitting/revealing) and weight-sensitivity (less weight-sensitive vs. weight-sensitive sports). Men participating in team sports reported significantly higher levels of victimisation across all types of interpersonal violence. Women in sports with non-revealing attire and men in less weight-sensitive sports also reported higher prevalence rates. The study underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of interpersonal violence characteristics and dynamics across different sports. Insights into the factors influencing victimisation enable tailored prevention and response strategies to be developed to better address the needs of athletes and sport organisations.
• FEPSAC position statement on safeguarding athletes in sport, opens in a new tab, Anastasiya Khomutova, Stiliani Ani Chroni, Emma Kavanagh, et al., Psychology of Sport and Exercise, Volume 80, 102897, (2025). In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the academic research on interpersonal violence (IV) and safeguarding in sport in a European context, focusing on safeguarding athletes. The position statement further includes recommendations and practical guidelines that will equip readers with knowledge and processes for recognising and responding to IV in sport. Through enhancing safeguarding literacy among FEPSAC members, we aim to inspire and empower both neophyte and more experienced practitioners in sport and exercise psychology toward fostering safer sporting relationships, spaces and practices.
• “I always just viewed it as part of sport”: Psychological maltreatment and conformity to the sport ethic, opens in a new tab, Sarah McGee, Gretchen Kerr, Michael Atkinson, et al., Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 37(4), pp.487-506, (2025). Sport environments have the potential to be advantageous to one’s development and well-being; however, they are also plagued with the normalization of excessive pressures and extreme expectations that can enhance athletes’ susceptibility to experiencing harm, especially psychological maltreatment. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore athletes’ experiences of conforming to the sport ethic and experiences of psychological maltreatment in sport. Semi-structured interviews were completed with thirteen retired, competitive, women athletes. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Findings demonstrate that the sport ethic influences the vulnerability of athletes to experiencing psychological maltreatment and athletes’ experiences of psychological maltreatment influence their conformity to the sport ethic. The desire to please is identified as central to this nexus between conformity and experiences of psychological maltreatment. The paper concludes with applied recommendations for sport psychology practitioners.
• Prevalence of emotional abuse and subsequent feelings in adolescent and young semi-professional male football players, opens in a new tab, Fatemeh RayatSarokolaei, Mohammad Vaezmousavi, Mojgan Memarmoghaddam, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 30(6), pp.754-767, (2025). Emotional abuse is the most common form of maltreatment in sports. However, due to the ignorance of the harmful effects and the hiding of this abuse in the shadow of success, less attention has been paid to it. In the present study, the researchers investigated the amount of emotional abuse and the subsequent feelings in young and adolescent athletes. The current research is cross-sectional with a mixed-methods approach, and 100 football players (adolescent = 59, young = 41) participated in the study. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, which was analyzed and interpreted by grounded theory and SPSS software. Evidence demonstrated that 48% of all participants were emotionally abused by a coach during their sports career, such as humiliation and insults. While this maltreatment has been more common among young athletes, it has left far more short and long-term destructive effects, such as self-blame and loss of pride among adolescents. Based on the findings, we conclude that many athletes are exposed to emotional abuse, which has adverse consequences, especially in adolescence. Therefore, the awareness of athletes and coaches regarding maltreatment and its harmful effects can reduce the frequency of emotional abuse and maintain the psychological safety of athletes.
• Sexual harassment in sport: a systematic review of risk factors, theoretical frameworks, and prevention strategies (2020–2025), opens in a new tab, Behnam Oboudi, Robert Book, Ekaterina Glebova, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 7, (2025). Sexual harassment (SH) remains a persistent safeguarding problem in sport, yet recent research highlights that its drivers operate simultaneously across structural, cultural, interpersonal, and situational levels. To clarify current knowledge in this rapidly developing field, this review synthesizes studies published between 2020 and 2025 examining risk factors, theoretical interpretations, and emerging prevention strategies in sport settings. Four frameworks (e.g., feminist theory, organizational culture theory, intersectionality, and routine activity theory) provided the analytical foundation for integrating recent evidence. Across studies, SH risk is elevated in environments characterized by power asymmetries, hypermasculine norms, weak guardianship, compromised reporting mechanisms, and limited institutional accountability. Prevention approaches increasingly emphasize independent safeguarding structures, improved organizational oversight, differentiated protections for marginalized groups, and situational measures that reduce opportunity for harm. This review contributes a consolidated analysis of contemporary findings and outlines implications for designing multi-level, theory-informed strategies to strengthen athlete safety in both physical and digital sport environments.
• Sustainability of Policies Addressing Harassment and Abuse in Children’s Sports: A Descriptive and Cross-National Account of Five European Countries, opens in a new tab, Shiakou, M., Alexopoulos, A., Avgerinos, A., et al., Journal of Sport and Social Issues, Volume 49(4), pp.309-331, (2025). Harassment and abuse in children's sports have significant long-term impacts on young athletes. The sustainability of policies addressing these issues depends on their comprehensiveness, implementation, enforcement, and adaptability. Despite progress by many sports organizations, abuse rates remain high. This study explored the perspectives of stakeholders on managing harassment and abuse in children's sports, aiming to promote healthy environments. It involved analyzing focus group discussions with 37 stakeholders from five European countries: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Austria. While the overt cases of abuse and harassment were easier to identify and address by the participants, the findings revealed several gray areas that complicate the situation which included physical training regimens, intense coaching practices, boundary violations, distinguishing motivation from mental abuse, parental conduct, and culturally accepted tactics. These gray areas were further influenced by cultural underpinnings, as norms and practices surrounding authority, discipline, and interaction in sports vary significantly across different cultural contexts. Participants emphasized the insufficiency of current educational programs and called for comprehensive initiatives to raise awareness among parents, coaches, federations, and child athletes. Training children on self-protection strategies was also deemed crucial. Participants highlighted the inadequacy of existing reporting mechanisms and advocated for clear, publicly accessible reporting guides. Despite acknowledging existing frameworks and policies, they reported inadequate implementation, indicating a gap between policy development and practical application.
• Crossing the line: conceptualising and rationalising bullying and banter in male adolescent community football, opens in a new tab, Robert J. Booth, Ed Cope, Daniel J.A. Rhind, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 29(6), pp.758-773, (2024). This study investigates how bullying and banter are conceptualised and rationalised by those in male adolescent community football. The authors employ a social constructivist, interpretative phenomenological analysis approach using qualitative, semi-structured interviews. These methods explore the meanings behind the perceptions and experiences of male players (N = 8, M age = 15.4) and coaches (N = 4, M age = 39). Evidence demonstrated that intent was not synonymous with bullying and that bullying and banter behaviours are highly ambiguous depending on the shared understanding of learned barriers despite participants concurring with most aspects of the definitions. Moreover, banter and bullying behaviours in community football have been experienced by participants, with acts being rationalised through moral disengagement and hypermasculinity. The research indicates that although bullying and banter are conceptualised similarly to popular definitions, concrete definitions may be limited due to the fluid nature of bullying and banter and the influence of shared social understandings. Additionally, the findings gathered show bullying and banter being experienced and rationalised in male youth community sport through moral disengagement and masculinity. The implications of these findings for safeguarding players and coaches in community football are discussed.
• Fighting the system: Psychology consultants’ experiences of working with cases of maltreatment in sport, opens in a new tab, James A. Newman, Adam Lickess, Andrew J. Higham, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 36(2), pp.210-230, (2024). The aim of this study was to obtain a nuanced, in-depth insight into sport psychology consultants’ (SPCs’) experiences of working with cases of maltreatment in sport, and their practice recommendations to address this behavior. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five HCPC-registered SPCs in the UK. Data were analyzed in line with the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Four group experiential themes emerged, centered around the participants searching for meaning, fighting the system, ingrained acceptance, and tackling the problem of maltreatment in sport. Specifically, the participants referred to how the sporting context influenced their understanding of maltreatment. They also discussed the inherent difficulties with reporting this behavior, and a lack of support in this process, whilst also alluding to how sporting institutions normalized abusive practices in pursuit of performance outcomes. To address the issue of maltreatment in sports, the participants discussed a variety of recommendations including organizations being accountable, the need for organizations to be more representative, and for SPCs to work with contextual intelligence. The findings from the present study provide important implications for sporting organizations, SPCs, and the professional bodies who support practitioners around the need to further understand maltreatment in sport, and to tackle this issue.
• Interpersonal gendered violence against adult women participating in sport: a scoping review, opens in a new tab, Kirsty Forsdike, Grant O’Sullivan, Managing Sport and Leisure, Volume 29(6), pp.898-920, (2024). This paper scopes recent empirical research to examine the focus of research into interpersonal gender-based violence against adult women in sport and what sports organisations are doing to respond and prevent such violence. The paper then sets out potential areas for future sport management research. We identified 15 papers. Findings are presented as a numerical summary and thematic analysis. The numerical summary reveals a lack of studies examining sport organisations’ responses to interpersonal gender-based violence against adult women participating in sport. The thematic analysis shows dominance of sexual violence often within the coach–athlete relationship, a focus on prevalence, and lack of theoretical underpinning. This paper shows a significant gap in research on adult women experiencing interpersonal gender-based violence in sport, and responses to such violence. It provides a foundation from which to drive future research.
• Match officials and abuse: a systematic review, opens in a new tab, Dara Mojtahedi, Tom Webb, Chelsea B. Leadley, et al., European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 24(1), pp.199-221, (2024). Match official abuse (MOA) in team sports has become a prominent issue within sport management; the effects of MOA on the safety, wellbeing and retention of officials has led to a growth of academic enquiry. The present review aimed to develop a thorough understanding of MOA through the perspective of sport officials from various sports. Qualitative synthesis of the results identified five key themes of empirical findings pertaining to the nature and prevalence of abuse; the effects of abuse on performance, wellbeing and retention; methods of interpersonal conflict management; facilitators of abuse; and match officials’ attitudes towards current support and intervention. Results show that MOA effects individuals at all levels of competition and can adversely affect the performance and wellbeing of officials.
• IOC consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport, opens in a new tab, Tuakli-Wosornu YA, Burrows K, Fasting K, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1322-1344, (2024). This evidence review and consensus process elucidated the characterisation and complexity of IV and safeguarding in sport and demonstrates that a whole-of-system approach is needed to fully comprehend and prevent IV. Sport settings that emphasise mutual care, are athlete centred, promote healthy relationships, embed trauma- and violence-informed care principles, integrate diverse perspectives and measure IV prevention and response effectiveness will exemplify safe sport. A shared responsibility between all within the sports ecosystem is required to advance effective safeguarding through future research, policy and practice.
• Quid interpersonal violence in the sport integrity literature? A scoping review, opens in a new tab, Bram Constandt, Tine Vertommen, Luke Cox, et al., Sport in Society, Volume 27(1), pp.162-180, (2024). Interpersonal violence (IV) against athletes has gained increased research, policy, and media attention. The purpose of this study is to analyze the scientific sport integrity literature (2010-2020) to better understand (a) to what extent, and (b) how IV has been discussed therein. Implementing Arksay and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, 1,342 studies were identified. Most studies focused on doping (n = 930), and to a lesser extent (illegal) gambling (n = 191), and match-fixing (n = 61). Only 36 studies broadly discussed IV as a sport integrity issue. Further thematic analysis showed that IV is sometimes recognized as a personal and organizational sport integrity threat and as an instrumental facilitator for other integrity breaches. Moreover, the normalization of aggression and violence in sport was a recurring theme, hampering safe, fair, and inclusive sport systems and organizations. To effectively address the issue of IV, this review article advocates for a broad, integral, and holistic sport integrity approach.
• Safeguarding strategies in athletes with intellectual disabilities: A narrative review, opens in a new tab, George Raum, Kuntal Chowdhary, Olivia A. Glotfelty-Scheuering, et al., PM&R, Volume 16(4), pp.374-383, (2024). Compared to their non-disabled peers, athletes with disabilities are at an increased risk of interpersonal violence in sport. Athletes with intellectual disabilities specifically may face compounded risk due to impaired communication and social challenges. Despite the inherent risk of interpersonal violence in athletes with intellectual disabilities, there is a paucity of literature focused on safeguarding strategies in this population, and no global consensus prevention guidelines exist. The goal of this review was to synthesize the literature on interpersonal violence in athletes with intellectual disabilities and propose an evidence-informed safeguarding framework. Future research and practice should emphasize tailored training on appropriate athlete-protection strategies and ways to recognize and respond to suspicions of abuse in this population. Given the benefits of sports participation for persons with intellectual disabilities, implementation of fit-for-purpose safeguarding strategies would help address any elevated risk of interpersonal violence. Formal monitoring and evaluation of these initiatives can help minimize interpersonal violence.
• The Safe Sport Allies bystander training: developing a multi-layered program for youth sport participants and their coaches to prevent harassment and abuse in local sport clubs, opens in a new tab, Karolien Adriaens, Helena Verhelle, Gjalt-Jorn Ygram Peters, et al., Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 15, (2024). Harassment and abuse represent a pervasive and critical problem in sport with far-reaching consequences. Survivors’ testimonials underscore the profound and enduring impact of these experiences at individual, interpersonal, organizational and community level. Many of their stories reveal painful inaction from responsible adults in the sport organization, aggravating the harm. Other contributing factors to the harm inflicted include a culture of silence, lack of knowledge and understanding of what constitutes abuse, unawareness of reporting and supporting mechanisms, and fear of potential consequences. While effective bystander interventions have been developed outside the sport context, particularly targeting students in higher education, such initiatives have yet to be extensively adapted and assessed within the sport context. To address this gap, the Safe Sport Allies Erasmus+ collaborative partnership relied on the intervention mapping approach as a guiding framework to systematically develop a bystander training program (i.e., Safe Sport Allies) to train youth sport participants and youth sport coaches to act as effective bystanders. The current paper describes the comprehensive development process and provides an overview of implementation and evaluation possibilities. Throughout the paper, it is explained how each step of the Intervention Mapping approach shaped the Safe Sport Allies bystander training program. The program development, and the developed plans for implementation and evaluation are presented, shedding light on challenges encountered. The bystander training program developed in this paper and the implementation and evaluation plans can serve as an outline to build future interventions within this critical domain of safeguarding in sport.
• Someone in their corner: trauma- and violence-informed approaches to disclosures of maltreatment in sport, opens in a new tab, Sheppard-Perkins M, Bradley L, Beaudry S, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume58(22), pp.1311-1312, (2024). Abuse and harassment in sports can present in many forms1 2 and are dishearteningly common, having disproportionate effects on groups who experience structural and systemic inequities such as athletes living with a disability3, 2SLGBTQIA+athletes4 and children and youth.3 Despite consistently low rates of disclosure of abuse in sports, moving forward with disclosure can be an effective catalyst towards the healing process, at which point the survivor may feel more comfortable seeking formal or informal avenues of support. However, a variety of factors can impede disclosure, prevent responses and enable ongoing experiences of abuse. These barriers include conflicts of interest, fear of professional repercussions, lack of formal pathways to respond to athlete maltreatment, power differentials, personal loyalty and organisational protectionism. This editorial discusses trauma- and violence-informed approaches to assist athlete disclosures of abuse and harassment in sports.
• Telling adults about it: children’s experience of disclosing interpersonal violence in community sport, opens in a new tab, Mary N. Woessner, Aurélie Pankowiak, Emma Kavanagh, et al., Sport in Society, Volume 27(5), pp.661-680, (2024). A challenge in safeguarding children from interpersonal violence (IV) in sport is the reliance on self-disclosures and a limited understanding of the frequency, barriers to and process of disclosures of IV. Through a mixed-methods design, combining survey and interviews, we explored the frequencies of childhood disclosures of experiences of IV in Australian community sport as well as who children disclosed to and how the interaction unfolded. Those who experienced peer violence disclosed at the highest frequency (35%), followed by coach (27%) or parent (13%) perpetrated IV. A parent/carer was most often the adult that the child disclosed to. Interviews highlighted how the normalisation of violence influenced all aspects of the disclosure and elements of stress buffering (normalising or rationalising) particularly underpinned the disclosure interaction. Policies and practices should explicitly identify all forms of IV in sport as prohibited conduct; education and intervention initiatives should target parents as first responders to disclosures.
• What Enables Child Sexual Abuse in Sport? A Systematic Review, opens in a new tab, Karl Dodd, Colin Solomon, Mitchell Naughton, et al., Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, Volume 25(2), pp.1599-1613, (2024). Sporting environments provide opportunities for perpetrators to commit child sexual abuse (CSA). While awareness of CSA in sport and preventative interventions are increasing, CSA in sport still occurs at alarming rates. A systematic review was conducted to identify and synthesize the extant literature on the enabling factors for CSA in sport. The 34 included articles were peer-reviewed and were primary sources; had full-text versions in English; included the individual, situational, environmental, or systemic antecedent factors and characteristics which enable CSA in organized sport (clubs, schools, universities, and representative teams); and focused on abuse in children (0–18 years old), and included retrospective incidents. The enabling factors from across the broader sports system were identified and mapped using a systems thinking-based approach, the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and the associated AcciMap method. The results indicated that enabling factors for CSA in sport were identified at multiple levels of the sporting system hierarchy. The results show that 24.1% (n = 46) of the enabling factors identified in the literature relate to the hierarchical level of the Athlete, teammates, opponents, and fans levels, and 52.9% (n = 101) of the enabling factors relate to the level of Direct supervisors, management, medical, and performance personnel level. However, only 13% (n = 25) of enabling factors to CSA in sport were identified at the combined top four hierarchical levels. Results indicate that the problem of CSA in sport is a systems issue, and future research is required to explore how these factors interact to enable CSA in sport.
• #WhatWouldYouDo? A cross-sectional study of sports medicine physicians assessing their competency in managing harassment and abuse in sports, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy M, Verhelle H, Finnoff JT, et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 58(22), pp.1353-1359, (2024). We implemented a cross-sectional cohort study design recruiting through social media and international sports medicine networks in 2023. The survey captured participant perceptions related to the harmfulness of harassment and abuse. The survey incorporated the reasoned action approach as a theoretical framework to design survey questions to identify attitudes and self-efficacy to detect and report suspicions of harassment and abuse and to identify barriers to reporting. Sports medicine physicians (n=406) from 115 countries completed the survey. The situations of harassment and abuse presented in the survey were described by sports medicine physicians as having occurred in the 12 months before participating in the survey. Despite recognising the situations as harmful, sports medicine physicians were somewhat uncomfortable being vigilant for the signs and symptoms and reporting suspicions and disclosures of harassment and abuse (M=2.13, SD=0.67). In addition, just over one-quarter (n=101, 26.9%) was unaware of where to report harassment and abuse, and over half did not know (n=114, 28.1%), or were uncertain (n=95, 23.4%) of who the safeguarding officer was in their sports organisation. Participants identified many barriers to reporting harassment and abuse, including concerns regarding confidentiality, misdiagnosis, fear of reprisals, time constraints and lack of knowledge. Over half felt insufficiently trained (n=223, 57.6%), and most respondents (n=324, 84.6%) desired more education in the field. Educational programmes to better recognise and report harassment and abuse in sports are needed for sports medicine trainees and practising clinicians. An international safeguarding code for sports medicine physicians should be developed.
• What would you do? Developing, implementing and evaluating a coach bystander intervention to prevent sexual violence in youth sports clubs, opens in a new tab, Helena Verhelle, Tine Vertommen, Karolien Adriaens, et al., Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, Volume 36(5), pp.809-830, (2024). With current estimates of up to one in three children experiencing some form of sexual violence in sports, the need for effective measures to prevent sexual violence in sports is high. Survivors’ narratives of sexual violence in sports uncover the lack of (adequate) bystander action and the urgent need for stakeholder education to effectively prevent sexual violence in youth sports. This study presents the “All Aboard” educational program, targeting youth sports coaches in Flanders (Belgium). The program aimed to stimulate the intentions of youth coaches to engage in positive bystander behavior to adequately detect, assess, and respond to signs of sexual violence toward young athletes. After two pilot studies, this program was implemented in nine Flemish sports clubs. Coaches’ readiness to change, intentions and attitudes, perceived norms, and perceived behavioral control were measured before and after they participated in the program using the “And what would you do?” questionnaire, constructed according to the Reasoned Action Approach. After the program, positive change was found in coaches’ intentions to be a positive bystander, e.g., they acknowledged the value of being a positive bystander, felt more comfortable being a positive bystander and believed that doing so would improve the situation. This article is one of the first to report on an evidence-based intervention program to prevent sexual violence in sports by fostering positive attitudes toward positive bystander behaviors by coaches. Opportunities and challenges of implementing education to prevent sexual violence in local sports clubs are discussed.
• When jokes aren’t funny: banter and abuse in the everyday work environments of professional football, opens in a new tab, Colm Hickey, Martin Roderick, European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 24(2), pp.383-403, (2024). This study provides an original insight into the attitudes professional football players hold towards banter. Contributing to the existing research that has examined forms of abuse within sport, this article aims to better inform the management and development of athlete well-being and player care.
• You do not suddenly become safe on your 18th birthday: managing safeguarding cases involving adult athletes in the United Kingdom, opens in a new tab, Olivia Garrod, Daniel Rhind, Sport Management Review, Volume 27(3), pp.344-364, (2024). Despite publicised cases of abuse impacting those above the age of 18, little research attention has been paid to the safeguarding of adults. The present study is informed by the recommendations of the Duty of Care in Sport Review, aiming to inform the development of a case data collection tool. Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 11 key stakeholders. Inductive thematic analysis of the interview transcripts revealed several challenges to collecting adult safeguarding case data in sport which were categorised into three domains: conceptualising cases, managing cases, and recording cases. Developing an effective case management process for adults will require a broader, and shared, understanding of the conceptualisation of adult safeguarding cases, including that vulnerability is not solely determined by personal characteristics, but is affected by the behaviour of perpetrators and fluctuates as circumstances change. Top-down support is necessary to ensure greater consistency in the reporting of valuable adult case data. With clear expectations, regarding what an adult safeguarding case is, what data should be collected, how it should be collected and why, as well as adequate resources, sports of all levels will be in a better position to protect adults from abuse or harm. A clearer roadmap for the management of adult safeguarding concerns in sport is offered.
• Athlete Perceptions of Governance-Related Issues to Sexual Abuse in Sport, opens in a new tab, Jörg Krieger, Lindsay Parks Pieper, Social Sciences, Volume 12(3), (2023). Cases of abuse in sport have emerged with frightening regularity over the past two decades. Scholarship has identified risk factors that can help facilitate abuse in sport and has explored athletes’ experiences with sexual abuse. However, less is known about athletes’ perceptions of the systematic organizational-level problems that fail to curtail sexual abuse. This article, therefore, explores what athletes believe to be the key issues in governance that facilitate sexual abuse in sport. An analysis of the lawsuits that athletes filed against US sport organizations and the testimonies they provided to the US Congress from 2017 to 2022 show four primary ways in which organizational culture, decisions and policies helped permit misconduct in sport. Athlete perspectives suggest governance issues related to monopolistic power structures, a lack of athlete representation, conflicts of interest, and commercialization facilitated an abuse-prone culture within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the United States. These findings show that athletes feel that the adjudication mechanisms that remain connected to sport bodies do not always curtail abuse.
• Culture, experiences, gender and sexual harassment for sport and exercise medicine/physiotherapy practitioners working in elite Australian sport, opens in a new tab, S. Cowana ∙ M. Girdwooda ∙ M. Haberfield, et al., Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 26(Supp.1), S175-176, (2023). All titled Australian Physiotherapy Association Sport and Exercise Physiotherapists, Sport and Exercise Medicine Practitioners, and doctors and physiotherapists working in Australian elite sport were invited to participate in the project (Feb – April 2022). All participants completed a tailored online survey and a validated Gender Experiences Questionnaire (GEQ). Women SEMP practitioners were more likely to work with women athletes who are paid less, have lower public profiles and receive less media attention, than their men counterparts, which potentially impacts renumeration available for SEMP practitioners. Furthering the disadvantage, women working in elite sport worked less paid hours per week and less paid weeks per year. SEMP practitioners were appointed to positions without established procedures: i.e. most SEMP roles were not advertised, nor had formal and transparent recruitment processes. Women were 4.01 times more likely than men to agree that their gender and/or sexual orientation influenced their opportunities in elite sport. Women currently working in elite sport experienced significantly more infantilisation, work/family policing and gender policing than men. Women also reported feeling less supported to discuss/ disclose these issues in their workplace.
• Nonaccidental Violence Among Elite Athletes in Finland: Associations With Sport Conditions and Mental Well-Being and Ill-Being, opens in a new tab, Satu Kaskiand Ulla Kinnunen, Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, Volume 17(4), pp.482-501, (2023). The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of nonaccidental violence among elite athletes in Finland, the predisposing factors to violence, and its consequences for mental well-being and ill-being. A total of 2,045 Finnish athletes participated in the study. Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to analyze the associations. The results indicated that 38.8% had experienced psychological abuse, 14.7% bullying, 13.3% gender-based harassment, and 5.5% sexual harassment. Female and younger athletes reported more violent experiences than male and older athletes. A team’s safe atmosphere and readiness to act protected athletes from nonaccidental violence, whereas the coach did not play a role. Nonaccidental violence, particularly psychological abuse, was associated with reduced mental well-being and increased ill-being. Our results suggest that it is worth investing in the team’s mutual relationships and safe cooperation when ensuring appropriate behavior and preventing nonaccidental violence among athletes.
• Pixies in a windstorm: Tracing Australian gymnasts’ stories of athlete maltreatment through media data, opens in a new tab, Michelle E. Seanor, Cole E. Giffin, Robert J. Schinke, et al., Sport in Society, Volume 26(3), pp.553-572, (2023). The media have reported stories of a toxic sport culture in elite gymnastics. Our interdisciplinary research team, through the lens of cultural relativism, sought to present athlete maltreatment as culturally constructed across individual, organizational and national cultural layers in Olympic development contexts. Tracing storied media data from elite Australian gymnasts, we tailored our sociocultural interpretation of athlete maltreatment within an Asia-Pacific context. We engaged in a reflexive thematic analysis to analyze and recognize our interpretations of the media data. We use a polyphonic vignette to highlight multiple storylines of Olympic athlete maltreatment across five temporal phases: (1) defining an Australian gymnast, (2) grooming an Australian gymnast, (3) living as an Australian gymnast, (4) questioning gymnastics and (5) what happens to Australian gymnasts now? Utilizing Asia-Pacific media data facilitated our nuanced interpretation of infacing and outfacing athlete maltreatment as media sources project athlete narratives in alignment with cultural agendas.
• Psychological, physical, and sexual violence against children in Australian community sport: frequency, perpetrator, and victim characteristics, opens in a new tab, Pankowiak, A., Woessner, M. N., Parent, S., et al., Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Volume 38(3-4), pp.4338-4365, (2023). Childhood sport participation is associated with physical, social, and mental health benefits, which are more likely to be realized if the sport environment is safe. However, our understanding of children’s experience of psychological, physical, and sexual violence in community sport in Australia is limited. The aims of this study were to provide preliminary evidence on the extent of experiences of violence during childhood participation in Australian community sport and to identify common perpetrators of and risk factors for violence. The Violence Towards Athletes Questionnaire (VTAQ) was administered online to a convenience sample of Australian adults (>18 years), retrospectively reporting experiences of violence during childhood community sport. Frequencies of experience of violence were calculated and Chi-square tests were conducted to determine differences between genders. In total, there were 886 respondents included in the analysis. Most survey respondents were women (63%) and about a third were men (35%). About 82% of respondents experienced violence in sport as a child. Psychological violence was most prevalent (76%), followed by physical (66%) and sexual (38%) violence. Peers perpetrated the highest rates of psychological violence (69%), and the rates of physical and psychological violence by coaches (both >50%) were also high. Age, sexual orientation, disability, and hours of weekly sport participation as a child were all associated with childhood experience of violence in sport. The rates of interpersonal violence against children in sport were high. This novel data on perpetrators of the violence and the risk factors for experiencing violence provides further context to inform safeguarding strategies in sport. A national prevalence study is recommended to advance our understanding of the childhood experiences of violence in Australian sport.
• Prevalence of interpersonal violence against children in sport in six European countries, opens in a new tab, Mike Hartill, Bettina Rulofs, Marc Allroggen, et al., Child Abuse & Neglect, Volume 146, (2023). A self-report questionnaire was developed (the Interpersonal Violence Against Children in Sport Questionnaire or IVACS-Q) to measure prevalence of five categories of interpersonal violence (neglect, psychological violence, physical violence, non-contact sexual violence, and contact sexual violence) against children who participate in sport. Validation testing (published separately) showed reasonable levels of convergent and divergent validity. Prevalence rates were calculated by national context, whether inside or outside sport, and by sex (male/female).The sample (N = 10,302) consisted of individuals aged 18–30 who had participated in organized sport prior to age 18 (49.3 % male, 50 % female). Prevalence of IVACS inside sport differed by category: psychological violence (65 %, n = 6679), physical violence (44 %, n = 4514), neglect (37 %, n = 3796), non-contact sexual violence (35 %, n = 3565), and contact sexual violence (20 %, n = 2060). Relatively small geographical differences were found. Across all categories, males (79 %, n = 4018) reported significantly more experiences inside sport than females (71 %, n = 3653). Strong correlations were found between experiencing violence inside and outside sport.
• “There just isn't any other option—so we just have to put up with it”: mental health in women's cycling and the necessity of structural change, opens in a new tab, Jill Colangelo, Alexander Smith, Anna Buadze, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 5, (2023). This perspective article draws upon anecdotal and scholarly evidence to provide an overview of psychiatric concerns in women's professional cycling. This informs recommended strategies to improve mental health and advance equality within the sport, which should involve actions from several stakeholders, such as athletes, teams, and governing bodies.
• A conceptual analysis of maltreatment in sports: A sport social work perspective, opens in a new tab, Courtney Gattis, Matt Moore, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 4, (2022). This commentary aims to discuss the different forms of maltreatment in sports that could affect athletes and provide discussion and insights into the void of research surrounding certain forms of non-relational abuse and the role trauma-informed therapies serve in promoting athlete wellbeing from a social work lens.
• Beneath the Surface: Mental Health and Harassment and Abuse of Athletes Participating in the FINA (Aquatics) World Championships, 2019, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy, Margo; Junge, Astrid; Magnusson, Christer, et al., Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Volume 32(2), pp.95-102, (2022). To assess the mental health and experience of sport-related harassment and abuse of elite aquatic athletes and to analyze it in relation to gender and discipline. A quarter (24.6%) of the 377 responding athletes were classified as depressed and 2.5% as having an eating disorder. More than 40% of the athletes stated that they wanted or needed psychotherapeutic support. Fifty-one athletes (14.9%) had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves, and 31 (9%) had witnessed it in another athlete. The experiences of harassment and abuse ranged from unwanted comments about body or appearance (40.2%) to rewards in sport for sexual favors (2.5%) and rape (0.3%). Athletes who had experienced harassment/abuse in sport themselves had higher average scores for depression and eating disorders, and more of them felt they needed psychotherapeutic support. Up to a third would not talk or report to anybody if they saw or experienced harassment/abuse, and less than 20% would talk to an official for help.
• Body shaming and associated practices as abuse: athlete entourage as perpetrators of abuse, opens in a new tab, Jenny McMahon, Kerry R. McGannon, Catherine Palmer, Sport, Education and Society, Volume 27(5), pp.578-591, (2022). In the 2016 International Olympic Committee Consensus Statement on harassment and abuse, it was outlined that psychological abuse in sport research has been heavily focused on the coach–athlete relationship resulting in a lack of research on other members of the athletes’ support system such as their ‘entourage.’ Researchers of abuse have further noted that psychological abuse remains relatively underexplored in comparison to other types of athlete abuses (e.g. sexual abuse). As psychological abuse is one of the most common types of abuse occurring in sporting contexts, it has been flagged as an urgent safeguarding concern. Psychological abuse can be enacted in different ways with many associated behaviours. The present study explored one under-researched issue shown to be entrenched in sport culture – ‘body shaming’ – and how it constitutes psychological abuse. We also focused on the role of the athlete entourage (i.e. people associated with the athlete) in relation to psychological abuse through the body shaming of athletes. Using thematic analysis, three female athletes’ stories showed how they were subjected to psychological abuse from members of their entourage when their bodies failed to meet socio-cultural expectations (i.e. too fat, not ‘slim to win’). While it was not the central focus of our research, the athletes also explained how they were subjected to physical abuse and physical neglect from entourage members when they were perceived to be overweight or too fat. The athlete entourage members found to be perpetrators of abuse and physical neglect included the coach, the parent, the partner, and the manager. This research provides novel insight into how abuse is circulating through sporting contexts, and in so doing, generates knowledge for prevention and intervention initiatives in sport.
• Listening to Athletes' Voices: National Team Athletes' Perspectives on Advancing Safe Sport in Canada, opens in a new tab, Erin Willson, Gretchen Kerr, Anthony Battaglia, et al., Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 4, (2022). If safe sport initiatives are to benefit athletes, consideration and incorporation of athletes' perspectives in the development and implementation of initiatives are imperative. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine athletes' perspectives on the challenges and recommendations to advancing safe sport. As part of a large-scale survey of current and retired Canadian National Team Athletes' experiences of maltreatment, open-ended questions were asked about athletes' recommendations and considerations for safe sport. Responses to these questions (n = 386) were analyzed using thematic analysis. According to the participants, barriers and challenges to safe sport included emphasizing performance excellence at-all-costs, normalization and complicity of harm, lack of attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, a culture of fear and silence, and a lack of trust in organizations to handle cases of harm. In an effort to advance safe sport, participants recommended prioritizing holistic athlete development, improving and strengthening accountability measures, implementing an independent 3rd party for disclosure, reporting and support, increased attention to equity, diversity and inclusion, stakeholder education, prohibition of sexual relations between athletes and those in positions of power and authority, and adoption of a broader perspective of harms and perpetrators. Findings are interpreted and critiqued in light of previous literature and recommendations for future research and practice are suggested.
• Responding to Violence Against Women in Sport: Challenges Facing Sport Organizations in Victoria, Australia, opens in a new tab, Kirsty Forsdike, Alex Donaldson, Emma Seal, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, Volume 93(2), pp.352-367, (2022). Despite sport being identified as having a role in preventing violence against women, little is known about how sport organizations respond to violence against adult women in community sport. Twenty-two individual participants from 12 sports organizations based in Victoria, Australia participated in this empirical and applied Concept Mapping study to explore the perceived challenges sports organizations face in responding to violence against women. Sports administrators considered training-related challenges as the most important but most difficult to address. Challenges related to organizational capacity/social environment were perceived as easier but less important to address. Key initiatives can be developed to support sport organizations to respond to violence against women in sport, but they will need assistance to prioritize initiatives addressing the most important challenges given a perceived lack of capacity to do so.
• SafeSport: Perceptions of Harassment and Abuse From Elite Youth Athletes at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, Lausanne 2020, opens in a new tab, Mountjoy, Margo; Vertommen, Tine; Tercier, Stephane, et al., Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Volume 32(3), pp.297-305, (2022). To analyze the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2020 athletes' understanding and perceptions of harassment and abuse in sport and their knowledge of reporting mechanisms. The survey response rate of athletes attending the Safe Sport Booth was 69%. When asked to define Safe Sport, 10% of athletes at the YOG2020 correctly identified a sport environment free from harassment and abuse, 20% identified fair play/antidoping, and 19% safety. When presented with the definition of harassment and abuse, 30.4% expressed surprise, in contrast to 46% in the summer YOG2018. A third (32%) reported that harassment and abuse was either “likely” or “very likely” present in their sport, which was similar to the YOG2018 (34%). The group of athletes not knowing where to go to report harassment and abuse was greater than in the YOG2018 (26% vs 11%). There were no differences in responses between competitive sex (boys' vs girls' events) or type of sport (team vs individual).
• Elite athletes’ experiences of interpersonal violence in organized sport in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, opens in a new tab, Jeannine Ohlert, Tine Vertommen, Bettina Rulofs, et al. European Journal of Sport Science, volume 21(4), pp.604-613, (2021). Interpersonal violence in sport occurs in different forms, from emotional abuse, overtraining, bullying, physical aggression and pressuring to punishment and sexual abuse. Due to the use of different definitions, a comparison of prevalence estimates between studies in different countries has not been possible to date. The aim of the current study was thus to present the prevalence estimates of interpersonal violence in elite sport for the Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders), and Germany and to examine the overlap of three types of interpersonal violence. Data from two different surveys (one in the Netherlands and Flanders and another in Germany) of a total of 1,665 elite athletes (n = 533 from the Netherlands and Flanders, n = 1,132 from Germany) were used. Athletes were asked to answer questions about their experiences of psychological, physical, and sexual violence in the context of organized sport. In general, lifetime prevalence estimates for all three types of interpersonal violence are more than 24% in elite athletes, with the highest numbers for psychological violence. Compared to representative population samples the prevalence rate of psychological violence seems to be particularly high. Gender differences were only evident for sexual violence, with female athletes showing higher prevalence estimates than male athletes. Furthermore, a high overlap of experiences of the three different forms of interpersonal violence was found for all three countries. The differences in prevalence estimates between the three countries are discussed.
• Infographic. A guide to understanding athlete abuse, opens in a new tab, Tuakli-Wosornu YA, British Journal of Sports Medicine, Volume 55(24), pp.1439-1440, (2021). The intent is to share information in an athlete-centred and sport-centred way so as to boost understanding of athlete abuse and enable easier integration of these data into education and injury prevention frameworks in sport. Clear communication using practical tools is important for sports organisations and advocates seeking to uphold a duty of care to athletes.
• Parents’ Own Experience of Verbal Abuse Is Associated with their Acceptance of Abuse towards Children from Youth Sports Coaches, opens in a new tab, Yutaka Yabe, Yoshihiro Hagiwara, Takuya Sekiguchi, et al., The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, Volume 249(4), pp.249-254, (2019). Verbal or physical abuse from coaches has negative effects on young athletes, and the parents of athletes also have an influence on the sports environment. It is therefore important to understand parents' attitudes towards abuse against their children from the coaches. A cross-sectional study using self-report questionnaires was conducted with parents of young athletes (n = 6,493). Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the factors associated with parents' acceptability of verbal or physical abuse against their children. The proportion of parents who were accepting of verbal or physical abuse was 21.5%. Acceptability of verbal or physical abuse was significantly associated with male, younger age, lower educational attainment, smoking habits, experience of playing on a team with high levels of competition during their junior or high school days, and experience of verbal and physical abuse by their own former coaches. About 58% and 28% of parents had experienced verbal and physical abuse from their own former coaches, and parents who had experienced verbal abuse themselves were most likely to be accepting of verbal or physical abuse towards their children. Educating parents is considered to be important for preventing and eradicating abuse against young athletes.