Abuses took place at the top of the Dutch triathlon for years. That is what a group of ten, partly underage, triathletes say on Friday in Fidelity. The triathletes paint a picture of a culture of fear of psychological and physical neglect, which led to depression, anorexia and long-term injuries, among other things. The Dutch Triathlon Association (NTB) says it takes the signals seriously.
The triathletes say the NTB has repeatedly ignored signals from athletes to do something about the culture of fear and the abuses. Trainers and coaching staff, who overtrained the athletes and forced them to lose weight, were kept under control, the athletes said. Last year, at the insistence of a number of top athletes and the Center for Safe Sports Netherlands, the NTB decided to have an investigation carried out by an independent agency. The results of the investigation are expected at the end of next week.
The athletes paint a picture in which the power of the union is “too great”: the only way to the top runs through the National Triathlon Center in Sittard, where the abuses took place, according to the athletes. The association determines the qualification requirements for major international competitions. “If you don’t succeed, they fly in another talent,” says top triathlete Youri Severin.
Abuses took place at the top of the Dutch triathlon for years. That is what a group of ten, partly underage, triathletes say on Friday in Fidelity. The triathletes paint a picture of a culture of fear of psychological and physical neglect, which led to depression, anorexia and long-term injuries, among other things. The Dutch Triathlon Association (NTB) says it takes the signals seriously.
The triathletes say the NTB has repeatedly ignored signals from athletes to do something about the culture of fear and the abuses. Trainers and coaching staff, who overtrained the athletes and forced them to lose weight, were kept under control, the athletes said. Last year, at the insistence of a number of top athletes and the Center for Safe Sports Netherlands, the NTB decided to have an investigation carried out by an independent agency. The results of the investigation are expected at the end of next week.
The athletes paint a picture in which the power of the union is “too great”: the only way to the top runs through the National Triathlon Center in Sittard, where the abuses took place, according to the athletes. The association determines the qualification requirements for major international competitions. “If you don’t succeed, they fly in another talent,” says top triathlete Youri Severin.
Abuses took place at the top of the Dutch triathlon for years. That is what a group of ten, partly underage, triathletes say on Friday in Fidelity. The triathletes paint a picture of a culture of fear of psychological and physical neglect, which led to depression, anorexia and long-term injuries, among other things. The Dutch Triathlon Association (NTB) says it takes the signals seriously.
The triathletes say the NTB has repeatedly ignored signals from athletes to do something about the culture of fear and the abuses. Trainers and coaching staff, who overtrained the athletes and forced them to lose weight, were kept under control, the athletes said. Last year, at the insistence of a number of top athletes and the Center for Safe Sports Netherlands, the NTB decided to have an investigation carried out by an independent agency. The results of the investigation are expected at the end of next week.
The athletes paint a picture in which the power of the union is “too great”: the only way to the top runs through the National Triathlon Center in Sittard, where the abuses took place, according to the athletes. The association determines the qualification requirements for major international competitions. “If you don’t succeed, they fly in another talent,” says top triathlete Youri Severin.
Abuses took place at the top of the Dutch triathlon for years. That is what a group of ten, partly underage, triathletes say on Friday in Fidelity. The triathletes paint a picture of a culture of fear of psychological and physical neglect, which led to depression, anorexia and long-term injuries, among other things. The Dutch Triathlon Association (NTB) says it takes the signals seriously.
The triathletes say the NTB has repeatedly ignored signals from athletes to do something about the culture of fear and the abuses. Trainers and coaching staff, who overtrained the athletes and forced them to lose weight, were kept under control, the athletes said. Last year, at the insistence of a number of top athletes and the Center for Safe Sports Netherlands, the NTB decided to have an investigation carried out by an independent agency. The results of the investigation are expected at the end of next week.
The athletes paint a picture in which the power of the union is “too great”: the only way to the top runs through the National Triathlon Center in Sittard, where the abuses took place, according to the athletes. The association determines the qualification requirements for major international competitions. “If you don’t succeed, they fly in another talent,” says top triathlete Youri Severin.