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US fencers ‘wear pink in protest’ at teammate separated from
Olympic squad over accusations by multiple women of sexual misconduct
31 Jul, 2021 08:46
US fencers appear to have made a statement against one of their own squad members © Maxim Shemetov / Reuters
A US fencer who was given a "safety plan" to "keep him away from all women at the Olympic Village" appears to have been ostracized by his teammates wearing pink – with one of his accusers saying one case should have ruled him out.
American fencing bosses are said to have made Alen Hadzic fly to the Tokyo Olympics on his own, stay in a separate hotel and train on his own after athletes "expressed concerns for their safety and well-being arising from [his] presence".
The alternate on the US men's epee team, who has repeatedly denied all of the allegations made against him, was suspended by the US Center for SafeSport in June after three women accused him of sexual assault on three different occasions, only to overturn that decision via an appeal later that month.
Now three of his teammates – Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez – have shown what an American reporter described as "disdain" for Hadzic by wearing pink, which has become an increasing trend among athletes who want to subtly share their views or raise awareness of issues they feel strongly about.
“I think one case is enough for you to not be allowed to compete at the ******* Olympics,” one of Hadzic's accusers was quoted as anonymously telling USA Today.
“It really makes you question how far someone needs to go in order for them not to be able to compete.’’
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee imposed the sanctions on Hadzic.
In an email apparently obtained by the outlet, USA Fencing CEO Kris Ekeren is said to have explained to Hadzic that competitors felt his presence was "likely to adversely affect their mental and emotional abilities to prepare and compete at the highest levels required for success in the Olympic Games".
“Several have asked that USA Fencing put measures in place to keep them safe and minimize distractions from training and competition," she added, according to the report.
"Accordingly, USA Fencing, in conjunction with the USOPC, will implement a safety plan for the upcoming Olympic Games.”
Some have accused SafeSport, which was set up to investigate claims of sexual abuse around the Americans' Olympic programs, of failing athletes.
There have also been unfavorable comparisons between the way Hadzic has been treated and the exclusion of sprint star Sha'Charri Richardson for a positive cannabis test, with the Guardian claiming there had been "differing treatment of a black female athlete and a white male" that demonstrated "the double standards that permeate sport".
In a lengthy timeline investigation of Hadzic's past, Buzzfeed claimed one Olympic fencer had told them that the 29-year-old had been "protected again and again" and spoke to an accuser who called him a "predator".
“We are p*ssed off that this is even a thing we had to deal with,” they were quoted as saying from Tokyo.
Another reportedly recalled: “He made my life a living hell at Columbia because he was extremely emotionally and psychologically abusive.
“At the time, nothing could be done. We were all so helpless in the situation because he just continues to get what he wants because he is a really fantastic fencer.”
Hadzic has labeled the allegations "untruths". His attorney, Michael Palma, has insisted that the athlete has never committed any acts of sexual assault.
The backup did not compete in his nation's 45-39 defeat to Japan, which sealed ninth place for the US in the competition.
Bradford, UK paedophile jailed after abusing girl, 8, for five years
huddersfieldexaminer
A vile paedophile who sexually abused a young girl for five years has been jailed.
A nine-day trail heard that he began exposing himself in front of the girl on several occasions in Bradford for a period of five years.
The abuse stopped in 2000 and the brave victim came forward to report it to West Yorkshire Police in 2014.
Hussain, now 48, of Court Road, Birmingham, was charged with seven counts of indecent assault, three counts of attempted rape of a child and indecency with a child.
At a hearing at Bradford Crown Court on Thursday July 29 he was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison for the attempted rape of a child after a jury found an unanimous guilty verdict, according to West Yorkshire Police.
Hussain was also placed on the sex offenders register for life.
West Yorkshire Police Investigating Officer Deborah Thornes said: “The actions of Hussain had a lasting impact on the victim, which is why she decided to come forward many years later and report what he had done, and I’d like to commend her bravery for doing so.
“Although his crimes were committed years ago, it does not diminish the severity of his actions, and I am glad that he has been brought to justice and will now spend a considerable amount of time behind bars. It’s a small price to pay on the lasting impact his actions had on this victim.
“I would encourage anyone who has been subject to this type of behaviour to please contact West Yorkshire Police, you will be listened to, and we will do our utmost to bring the perpetrator to justice.”
Kenora OPP officer to face trial in U.S. for alleged sex abuse of girls
Brady John Hillis faces potential 30-year mandatory sentence
CBC News ·
Posted: Aug 03, 2021 5:00 AM CT
The girls were allegedly abused while vacationing with their families at Fortune Bay Resort Casino in Minnesota. (Fortune Bay Resort Casino)
A Kenora OPP officer will face trial in the U.S. on charges of sexually abusing two Indigenous girls at a resort on the Bois Forte Indian Reservation in Minnesota.
A U.S. federal grand jury formally indicted Brady John Hillis, 32, last week in connection with complaints made by girls age seven and nine who vacationed with their parents at the Fortune Bay Resort Casino in 2018.
Hillis is charged with U.S. federal crimes including aggravated sexual abuse of a child under 12, which carries a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison.
Hillis made his initial court appearance in Minnesota on Friday, acting U.S. Attorney W. Anders Folk said in a statement.
In June, Hillis lost a bid in Ontario's Court of Appeal to have the decision by Canadian officials to surrender him to the U.S reviewed.
Hillis has been on suspension from the OPP under the requirements of Ontario's Police Services Act.
The alleged abuse happened in the span of about an hour on June 22, 2018, court documents say.
Hillis is accused of offering the nine-year-old girl money in exchange for touching her at an arcade.
The seven-year-old alleged he abused her at a resort pool, court documents said.
The incidents were first reported to resort security, who called police. Eventually, the FBI handled the case.
Hillis was released and allowed to return to Canada. He immediately notified his OPP superiors, the appeals court said.
Extradition fight
Canada's justice minister ordered him to surrender for extradition in May 2020. Hillis initially fought the application on the grounds it was an abuse of process but a judge dismissed it.
Canada's pathetic justice system
He then sought to have the justice minister's decision reviewed, arguing the sentence he could receive in the U.S. was out of line with what he'd get in Canada, where the maximum sentence for sexual interference is 14 years.
While that charge does technically carry a one-year mandatory minimum, it has been struck down by the courts as being in violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Brady Hillis is currently on suspension from the OPP under the rules set out in Ontario's Police Services Act. (CBC)
As well, Hillis raised concerns about being subjected to what's called "civil commitment" in the U.S., where the state can indefinitely detain mentally ill sex offenders after their sentences end on the grounds they are "sexually dangerous to others."
However, the Canadian government said it was given assurances the U.S. would not invoke the civil commitment procedure for Hillis and he'd be sent back to Canada.
As well, the U.S. said it wouldn't object to Hillis or the Canadian government requesting he be transferred back to Canada to serve the balance of his sentence, as long as it's made two years before it ends.
The appeals court found the minister's decision to extradite Hillis was reasonable, despite the potential disparities in penalties between the two countries.
"The minister was well aware of the nature and extent of the disparity and of its importance to his surrender decision. He took steps to obtain assurances to reduce that disparity," Justice David Watt wrote.
No trial dates have been set in Hillis' case and he is presumed innocent.
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