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This means that Swiss Sport Integrity receives a message almost every day. A change in the world of sports is becoming apparent – in the longer term.
A coach who gets too close to a young athlete. Or a trainer who humiliates her protégés and mentally exhausts them. Unfortunately, this happens again and again in the sports world. Since the beginning of the year, those affected and witnesses have been able to anonymously contact an independent reporting office to report abuse and ethical violations.
The new reporting office was created after attacks and abuses in artistic gymnastics became known in autumn 2020 through the so-called “Magglingen Protocols”. The registration office is affiliated with Swiss Sport Integrity, the former Antidoping Switzerland Foundation.
Since the reporting office was introduced six months ago, 140 potential ethical violations in sport have been reported. This high number surprised Ernst König. He is director of the Swiss Sport Integrity Foundation.
We were surprised that there were six or seven reports a week.
“We had no experience, either nationally or internationally. Based on the experiences of the national associations and Swiss Olympic, we expected one or two reports per week. We were surprised that there are now six or seven reports per week, »says König.
Need for independent position
This high number shows the need for a truly independent body. After one that is not part of the sport itself. In addition, the 140 tips are a vote of confidence from Swiss athletes in the organization, says the director of Swiss Sport Integrity.
“We have done good, solid anti-doping work over the decades. The athletes have confidence in our work in the field of anti-doping. And I think we were able to show this trust to the new job.”
The new registration office can only impose sanctions to a very limited extent, explains König. «We are in the role of prosecutor. We investigate the reports and then we make applications for sanctions.” The responsible disciplinary body for Swiss sport will decide on any sanctions.
There is still one possibility: “If we believe that there is an immediate danger for those affected, then we have the option of taking precautionary measures. For example, we can exclude a trainer from training for a short, specific period of time and thus prevent further damage from occurring.”
No drop in reports expected in the short term
However, the reporting office for ethics violations and abuses in sports is only one piece of the puzzle to change something in the sports sector. Prevention work is also extremely important, says König. In the longer term, he expects a drop in reports. Not in the short term.
Because prevention also aims to increase sensitivity. “I believe that if those affected deal with the issue, they will feel encouraged to report their own experiences to us,” said the director of the Swiss Sport Integrity Foundation.
In addition, verdicts in the ethics proceedings are expected soon. These may result in sanctions. “We assume that this encourages victims who have suffered similar things to send us a report,” says König. “I have the feeling that the level will not drop dramatically in the medium term. But of course that has to be the goal in the long term.”