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Tokyo Olympics: the pink mask of American fencers against sexual violence ... and their teammate

2021-07-31T18:01:27.657Z


Three members of the US epee team wore pink masks on Friday to show their support for the cause of women victims of a


The image will surely make a date.

Before their match against Japan (loss 45-39) on Friday, Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez, three of the American team's fencers, wore pink masks.

A way of symbolically protesting against the presence of their teammate Alen Hadzic, currently under investigation for accusations of sexual assault between 2013 and 2015. Pink is a color often displayed in solidarity for women's rights.

In the United States, it is notably one of the rallying colors of the Women's March.

Last June, Alen Hadzic was suspended by the US Center for SafeSport, an association for the prevention of sexual abuse in sport, after being the subject of three charges, but had finally obtained the cancellation of this suspension by making call.

In Japan, the American swordsman is still the subject of a "security plan", having been forced to travel alone to Tokyo, and having to stay outside the Olympic Village in a hotel nearby.

A petition from athletes against Alen Hadzic

Measures that were imposed by the American Fencing Federation, which does not welcome the presence of Alen Hadzic. USA Today obtained the email from the federation explaining the measures to the young man: “The athletes on the team have expressed concerns for their safety and well-being because of your presence, which they believe is likely to negatively affect their mental and emotional capacities to prepare and compete at the highest levels required to succeed in the Olympic Games, ”reads this message justifying this“ security plan ”against Alen Hadzic.

Another member of the US team, Katharine Holmes, told USA Today that the entire fencing delegation signed a petition against Alen Hadzic's presence.

If the latter's lawyer claims that there is no such petition, the pink masks displayed suggest that his own teammates are against his presence.

They did not wish to comment unduly on this action.

Substitute in the épée team, Alen Hadzic did not make his debut against Japan and therefore will not have fought in these Olympic Games.

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2021-07-31

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