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Another unfortunate example of Canadian justice:
Former wrestler 'shocked' by disciplinary decision after filing
sexual assault complaint against coach
Organization had no policy or procedure in place for handling complaint
Rhianna Schmunk, Lori Ward · CBC News ·
Posted: Jun 26, 2023 1:00 AM PDT |
Former teen athlete shocked at sexual misconduct complaint outcome
Former championship wrestler Madison Payette is speaking out after learning her suspended former coach could return to working with young athletes by 2025, even though a disciplinary panel found that, on a balance of probabilities, he had sexually assaulted her when she was 17.
Warning: This story contains a description of sexual assault.
A former provincial championship wrestler who came forward claiming her coach sexually assaulted her at a party when she was a teenager is disappointed with what she describes as the "ridiculous" Canadian complaints process, saying it left her afraid for the safety of other young athletes.
Madison Payette, now 26, learned last month that her old coach, Aso Palani, had been suspended after a disciplinary panel found, on a balance of probabilities, that he had assaulted her when she was 17.
The coach was suspended for three years, half of which is already over — meaning he will be free to return to work with youth in February 2025.
"It's ridiculous," said Payette, speaking in an exclusive interview with CBC.
"You're going to say that it did happen, on the balance of probability … but you're only going to give him three years? And you're willingly going to let him go and continue to work with minors?
"It's absolutely shocking."
Palani, 36, "vehemently" denied the allegation of sexual assault during the hearing. He did not respond to requests for an interview and plans to appeal the decision.
Despite the panel finding in her favour, Payette says her case highlights the grueling reality of the patchwork sports disciplinary process in Canada, which is still inconsistent across the country despite public discourse calling for improvements for years.
For all the talk around safety in sports, Payette says, the reality behind the scenes is still far more difficult for athletes who step forward.
Wrestling Canada added Palani's name to a list of suspended coaches in March 2022, but the full decision from the B.C. Wrestling Association — which explained the reason for his suspension — was not made public for seven weeks, despite repeated requests from Payette's legal team.
The decision was posted online Tuesday, the day after CBC News contacted Wrestling Canada to request an interview.
In a statement, the national organization said "there was never a decision not to publish the full details of the suspension."
Decision describes night of party
Payette started wrestling as a high school student in her hometown of Edmonton. Under her father's coaching, she went on to compete provincially and nationally, as well as for the University of Alberta.
She met Palani when he started coaching three days a week at the Edmonton Wrestling Club in 2012. At the time, Palani was also a member of the Canadian national team and registered with a wrestling club in B.C.
Payette claimed Palani used his reputation to gain her trust.
"He was giving me all the attention that a 17-year-old girl would have wanted. He told me I was special. He told me that I was mature for my age … you want to believe all these things."
Payette went to a house party hosted by university athletes in Edmonton in December 2013, a few weeks after her 17th birthday. She said Palani also went to the party, which she called "unusual" for a coach.
Madison Payette, right, is pictured in an undated photo taken during a wrestling match.
(Supplied by Madison Payette)
The disciplinary decision said the rest of the group left to go to a nearby bar. Payette, who was still underage, stayed behind with Palani.
Payette told the disciplinary panel that Palani gave her alcohol, led her to a bedroom, removed all of her clothes and forced her to perform oral sex on him.
She said the assault stopped when two university athletes, both men, came back from the bar early.
"I was 17 years old. I really hadn't had any dating experience. I didn't know how relationships were supposed to work. And then you have this adult who's been put on a pedestal, basically, you know, he's your head coach. He's a national team member," said Payette.
During the disciplinary hearing, Palani said he did not attend the party in question and did not interact with Payette that night. He denied flirting with Payette during his time as her coach.
Palani did not respond to repeated requests for comment by CBC.
Aso Palani is pictured in an undated photo. (Aso Palani/Facebook)
Edmonton Police confirmed they received a complaint from Payette, but said the file is currently closed. Palani has not been criminally charged in the matter.
In its decision, the disciplinary panel criticized what it described as Palani's attempts to attack Payette's character and credibility "on multiple fronts" during the hearing. The decision said the coach and his lawyer questioned her mental health and whether she was too intoxicated to remember what happened.
Palani also implied "girls who cry on the witness stand are unreliable," according to the decision.
There is more to this story at CBC News - No Policies in Place
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Victims claim gender discrimination in application of sex crime laws
Is there cause for a Human Rights complaint as sexual predator didn't break any laws?
Julie Ireton · CBC News ·
Posted: Jun 23, 2023 9:52 AM PDT | Last Updated: June 25
From left to right: Anne-Marie Robinson, Jackie Short, Ali and Jeanie McKay all allege they were sexually exploited or assaulted by their teacher before sexual exploitation became an official charge in Canada's Criminal Code. (Julie Ireton/CBC)
WARNING: This article contains details of abuse
Leslie McMillan still remembers the night she dragged her intoxicated friend, Ali, out of their high school music teacher's hotel room.
"She's lying on his bed, on her back, totally passed out, pants undone," recalled McMillan. "I knew in my gut what had happened."
It was May 1987 and they were on a school trip to Montreal. Ali was in Grade 11 and the teacher was near mid-life, married with children.
What happened that night remained unreported until last fall when Ali, now 53, went to York Regional Police to report what she believed was sexual exploitation and assault.
"He was 39," Ali told CBC. "I cannot imagine getting sexually involved with a 17-year-old."
CBC News has agreed to withhold her last name as she continues to pursue justice.
In November, a detective videotaped an interview with Ali and took the names of potential witnesses — 35 years after the band trip.
Though there is no statute of limitation for sex crimes in Canada, no one would call on McMillan, or anyone else, to testify what she and others saw as teenagers.
In fact, the detective told Ali there would be no case.
"What he did wasn't illegal," said Ali, explaining what the officer told her. "There was no law on the books at the time."
A suspect can only be charged with violations listed in Canada's Criminal Code at the time of the alleged infraction. Sexual exploitation — a charge commonly used against teachers and other people in positions of authority for crimes against someone under 18 — became law in January 1988.
That was seven months after Ali's hotel incident.
Please read the rest of the story at CBCNews - No laws apply
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