An investigation was opened into sexual assault on minors by a person in authority after a report concerning a coach of the French gymnastics team who was suspended, the Paris prosecutor's office said on Friday, requested by AFP.
The investigation was entrusted to the Minors Office (Ofmin, specialized in the fight against violence against minors) and relates to acts allegedly committed against adolescents under and over 15 years old, added the prosecution. , without specifying the number.
The Ministry of Sports announced on Wednesday that it had suspended coach Nellu Pop as a precautionary measure.
The French Gymnastics Federation (FFGym) specified in a press release that he had been suspended for alleged acts of “violence and mistreatment towards athletes”.
The alleged facts were brought to the attention of the Ministry of Sports during an administrative investigation into the gymnastics federation, launched in May 2023 after a report from France 2 where six former gymnasts from the French team denounced physical or psychological violence from coaches.
The accusations against the coach were “reported to the public prosecutor,” the ministry said.
In its press release, the Federation assured that it was collaborating “actively with the competent authorities to ensure the transparency and rigor of the ongoing investigation”.
“We are awaiting more information from the ministry in order to take appropriate measures in accordance with our fundamental principles,” added the body.
The Federation “strongly condemns violence in all its forms”
For several years, gymnastics has been shaken in several countries by cases of sexual violence, such as in the United States, as well as incidents of mistreatment linked to training.
Some gymnasts, mostly young girls, even reported food deprivation.
In France in May 2023, the technical director of the France pole in Marseille, Vincent Pateau, was sentenced to six months in prison for moral harassment against minor sportswomen whom he had trained in this high-level structure.
The ministry then decided that he could no longer exercise any management function.
“We would like to strongly condemn violence in all its forms and underline our unwavering commitment to the protection of gymnasts and strict compliance with ethical standards for the 330,000 licensees of the Federation,” affirmed the FFGym.
“The Federation remains committed to promoting a healthy sporting environment, where the integrity and well-being of athletes are top priorities,” she added.