June 19, (THEWILL) – American judge, Rosemarie Aquilina, known for her role in sentencing disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar, in January 2018, has called for an independent inquiry into sports in Canada amidst numerous allegations of harassment, abuse, and bullying.
Speaking at the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, Aquilina stressed the urgent need for immediate action and accountability to protect athletes. She asserted that an independent judicial investigation was crucial to safeguarding athletes from the pain, suffering, and trauma they endure in the sporting realm. She expressed her disappointment, stating that Canada should be focusing on celebrating the excellence and well-being of its athletes rather than profiting from their abuse.
The judge further highlighted the importance of providing athletes with a safe and positive training environment free from physical and emotional abuse, emphasising the need to address the current culture that allows aggressive coaches to overstep boundaries and mistreat young athletes.
She was concerned how in recent times, Canada has been confronted with scandals spanning various sports, with several athletes testifying before parliamentary committees, sharing accounts of the physical and mental abuse they suffered at the hands of coaches and officials.
Sports Minister, Pascale St-Onge, introduced a series of reforms in May aimed at holding national sports organisations accountable. However, critics argue that these measures fall short of the comprehensive response needed.
Aquilina joined the chorus of voices calling for a national inquiry, asserting that protecting the integrity of sports entails safeguarding both the sports themselves and the athletes. She harped on the fact that athletes, who begin their sporting journeys as children, are currently enduring a normalisation of abuse within the sports community, leading to lifelong consequences while others profit.
Aquilina drew a parallel between allowing abuse in sports and condoning child abuse, stating that it essentially kills the spirit of the athletes. THEWILL recalls that she passed the judgement sentencing Nassar to up to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing young female gymnasts.
During the extraordinary week-long hearing, 160 victims, many of whom were minors at the time of the abuse, fearlessly shared their stories. Since then, Aquilina has become a vocal advocate, using her platform to give survivors a voice and help them regain their personal power.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
