The issue of sexual harassment and abuse in sport is taking more and more flight. The complaints have increased, but at the same time there are many that are not made for fear of moving up the career ladder and that has made the Minister of Sport, María Isabel Urrutiaspeak hard and clear on the subject.
This week the case of the Besser Sports Club of Bogota. The parents of some players denounced Pedro and Sebastian Rodriguez of abuse and sexual harassment before the Ministry of Sport, so the alarms went off again.
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Ministry of Sport has followed these problems step by step and the newly appointed head of the position, the former athlete, Maria Isabel Urrutia, warned that one of the problems is that the cases “die in the Prosecutor’s Office.” TIME spoke to her.
Surprised by the number of cases
What is the role of the Ministry of Sport in cases of sexual abuse and harassment?
We have a line where those who feel harassed can report it. We treat the subjects of the Federations and the Leagues with the ICBF and the others are sent to the departments.
What is the procedure?
You have to look at each case and determine the regular channel, whether it goes to the Ombudsman’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, Family Welfare, Attorney General’s Office or Comptroller’s Office. We monitor each case, but the truth is that there have been no results.
Are the results not good?
No. We know that there was a problem in the weights in which there is already a detainee. We know about the issue of weights in Barranquilla, but due to expiration of terms the person was released.
“More and more cases are coming out. Athletes don’t have to sell their bodies.”
Do you feel that the Ministry is alone in this fight?
It’s time for them to help us. The Prosecutor’s Office is key in these issues, since it is in charge of sentencing.
Has the number of cases in sports surprised you?
Yes, the truth, yes. What is happening is worrying, more and more cases are coming out. Athletes do not have to sell their bodies, the reform must be changed to include the issue of clubs.
What is your proposal?
In order for the clubs to have their sports recognition, their members must undergo training on the subject of non-violence against women and respect for children.
Are there cases of harassment and abuse in men?
There are some, but men don’t report as much as women, you don’t see much, but there are.
And what is done?
They must be taught to denounce, not to remain silent. The issue is that they do it and leave the sport and that should not be the case. They don’t say anything because their sports career is in the way and that’s not the best thing.
As an athlete, he knew cases
How to act and avoid more cases?
We have to start working on that, so that the children know that they cannot be touched and the coaches must be instilled in them that they must respect the athletes. It must be a matter of awareness, of knowing the limits.
In your sports career, were you a victim of abuse or did you know of any case?
I didn’t live it. I did not face such a case because I was always of a strong character and that helped me to prevent it from occurring.
But did you know of any?
Yes, in the weights you lived. I had colleagues who had that problem.
The key to the problem
What does it take to win the fight?
It makes me very angry. We had been working with Asomujeres on the sports issue, but one remains powerless, because nobody does anything to improve.
What do you mean?
The law exists for punishments, but the issue is that they don’t stop balls. The Prosecutor’s Office does little, it passes by, reaches a judge and gets lost along the way. Almost all cases end up dead in the Prosecutor’s Office.
So what is the problem?
The laws are not strong, obviously, it is the definition of the criminal code, and there it says that those who are confirmed in these cases have up to life imprisonment, but in sports that has not worked, there has been a lack of seriousness to investigate and punish.
Is it an issue you will target in your administration?
It will be one of my flags and very strong. First I have to meet with the Prosecutor and ask him to create a special unit for sports cases, the idea is to enforce the laws.
Are the leaders committed to that cause?
You also have to train them. Both men and women. A healthy mind in a healthy body. You have to play fair, but some leaders play dirty.
1/3 We reject the acts of sexual abuse that were denounced by the girls and adolescents who make up the Bogotá Soccer League (@BogotaLFB) and the Colombian Women’s National Team Sub 17 (@futfemcolombia). We stand in solidarity with the victims and their families. pic.twitter.com/ELed2q3UQ4
— Ombudsman (@DefensoriaCol) August 24, 2022
What new cases have you heard about since you took office?
In the Bogotá soccer club. I invite parents and athletes to help us denounce to close the gap and stop these abuses.
What is the center of the problem?
Athletes must be told that if they have not earned a place on a team or the space to go to an event, they should not hand over their body. We will keep a very close eye on those athletes, leagues and clubs.
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The complaint against owners of the Club Deportivo Besser de Bogotá
The parents of several players of the Besser Sports Club from Bogotá denounced Pedro and Sebastián Rodríguez for sexual abuse and harassment before the Ministry of Sport.
According to the letter, the club has become a scene “of sexual abuse and harassment of minors. Sebastián Rodríguez has been denounced by all of us because, taking advantage of his profession, of power over our minor daughters, he has engaged in multiple abusive sexual practices with them, ”says the complaint.
And he adds: “Pedro Rodríguez, father of Sebastián and owner of the club and also denounced, is aware of this and far from making decisions to avoid it, he has shown total disregard for the rights of girls.”
It is noted that the harassment, abuse and humiliation to which the players have been subjected are inconceivable.
“Within the acts, it is known of improper touching, sending photographs of their genitals, girls and adolescents, requesting images of pornographic content, harassment and threats, sustaining sexual relations and sustaining acts of subjugation. and psychological”says the letter.
The parents assure that Sebastián Rodríguez is a “sexual predator who, without a doubt, takes advantage of his position of power and hierarchy in the club to sexually abuse minors.
“Decide who plays and who doesn’t, in what positions on the field, what day and in what tournaments,” they indicate.
It was known that Sebastian Rodriguez He was appointed technical director of the Bogotá U-13 team, a position from which he resigned in a letter sent on May 3.
“I want to express the honor I had working with the entire coaching staff, who made an effort and gave every day to be willing to give their best,” Rodríguez wrote.
Some of the parents of the players of that team sent a statement to the Bogota Soccer League in which they requested a right to petition to learn in depth the cause of Rodríguez’s resignation from office.
Other complaints
Sexual abuse of a minor by the volleyball coach of the Colegio Normal Superior de Bucaramanga.
Alleged acts of disrepute, insult and harassment by an official attached to Indervalle.
Alleged conduct of harassment of athletes by a DT of the Club Deportivo Hobelix Fútbol Club Bogotá.
Abuse and sexual harassment presented in amateur and professional football in Ibagué and Bogotá by the president of the La Paz FC team
Crimes against freedom, integrity and sexual discrimination by the director of the Judo PAD Program.
Alleged harassment and sexual abuse of a minor by a mountain biker from the Ciclo Soacha club.
Alleged sexual abuse of a minor by the DT of the Cundinamarca Judo League.
Alleged abusive carnal access with a minor by the DT of the Atlantic Athletics League for the disabled.
Alleged acts of sexual harassment and abuse against rugby athletes. They point to the DT of the Colombian National Team.
The athlete Violeta Camila Cantillo denounced for sexual abuse and violent carnal access to the technician of the Club Talentos del Atlántico Juan Carlos Cervantes Salinas.
Alleged sexual abuse of a minor by a mountain biking athlete from the Soacha Cycle Club and the MTB-IMRDS coach.
Alleged discrimination and physical abuse against minors. The defendant is DT and legal representative of the VT Skating Stars Club.
Alleged physical aggression, sexual and psychological harassment and physical abuse by the DT against several athletes of the Antioquia under-18 men’s basketball team.
Alleged abusive sexual intercourse with a person unable to resist committed against a Paralympic athlete by athletes from the Bogota Physical Disability League.
Alleged psychological abuse and discrimination for the condition of women in minors. The accused is a member of the Antioquia Baseball League.
Lisandro Rengifo
Editor of THE TIME
@Lisandroabel
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