Canadian Figure Skater Nikolaj Sorensen Suspended for Six Years Over Sexual Maltreatment Allegations

Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Sorensen has been suspended for at least six years following an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) announced on Wednesday, as reported by CTV News.

The suspension has been listed on the Abuse-Free Sport registry and is subject to challenge or appeal.

Skate Canada, the national governing body for figure skating, responded to the decision with a statement acknowledging the ruling.

“Skate Canada has been made aware of the decision from Abuse-Free Sport in this matter and is taking the necessary action to comply with it,” the organisation said. Skate Canada will formally issue the ban in line with the OSIC’s findings.

Nikolaj Sorensen Canada – Jackson Ultima Skates

The suspension stems from a 2012 allegation that Sorensen sexually assaulted an American figure skating coach and former skater in Hartford, Connecticut. Sorensen, 35, has denied the accusation, which has not been tested in court.

Despite the ongoing investigation, Sorensen and his skating partner, Laurence Fournier Beaudry, continued to compete last season.

In January, the pair withdrew from the Canadian figure skating championships in Calgary but later participated in the March World Championships held in Montreal.

The OSIC, established in June 2022, handles complaints and investigations for national-level athletes under sporting organisations that have signed on to its program.

Former sports minister Pascale St-Onge created the independent body in response to abuse scandals within sports organisations, including Hockey Canada. Since August 2023, the OSIC has announced eight suspensions, with Sorensen’s being the sixth case involving sexual maltreatment.

Sorensen is the second Skate Canada individual to face suspension for misconduct under the OSIC program.

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Tyler Myles, a figure skating coach, was previously handed a permanent ban for “Boundary Transgressions, Interference with or Manipulation of Process, Physical Maltreatment, and sexual maltreatment.”

However, Myles’ case remains challenged regarding the applicability of the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS).

As Sorensen’s suspension unfolds, the skating community awaits the potential outcomes of any appeals or challenges to the OSIC’s decision.

Dan Olczak

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