Olympian Brendan Kerry receives lifetime ban for sexual offenses: details.

Scandal with Australian figure skater

According to The Sun: Thirty-year-old Brendan Kerry, a three-time Olympic participant, has allegedly acknowledged that he was aware of the offense when engaging in repeated sexual relationships with a 17-year-old girl.

Kerry participated in the Olympics in 2014, 2018, and 2022, and has also been crowned Australian champion in singles skating eight times.

Legal issues

Kerry was also a registered coach in the USA, but in May 2024, he received a lifetime ban from participating in any Olympic events in America due to 'sexual offenses against minors,' reported the US Center for SafeSport.

This ban led the New South Wales Ice Skating Association (NSWISA) to send a letter to its members. According to the Daily Mail, Kerry filed a lawsuit against NSWISA, its president Peter Lynch, and secretary Fiona Kusilek for damaging his reputation.

The defendants claim their statements were based on official findings, which may help them in court in New South Wales.

“This letter labeled Kerry with tags such as offender and pedophile.”

But Kerry's lawyers dispute these claims, as the age of consent in New South Wales is 16 years.

Speaking about the location of events

In California, where these events took place, the age of consent is 18 years, and any sexual relations with individuals under this age are considered sexual violence.

SafeSport conducted an investigation into Kerry's alleged relationship with the teenager and confirmed that he engaged in sexual contact with the girl.

The investigation also noted that he provided her with alcohol and used 'physical force,' encouraging her to keep the relationship a secret.

“She felt she had no control over what was happening and couldn't say no, but went along with [Kerry].”

Kerry denies all accusations and claims the process was improper, stating that SafeSport “punished me for alleged violations that I did not commit.”

His appeal against SafeSport's decision in September 2024 was denied.

SafeSport concluded that Kerry's actions violated several articles of the California Penal Code.

So far, no criminal charges have been brought against Kerry in either Australia or the USA. SafeSport also investigated a claim by another figure skater, Gracie Gold, who confirmed that Kerry raped her at a party in 2016, but the investigation found insufficient evidence to support this claim.

The defense from NSWISA in their legal case asserts that they merely “repeated the relevant terminology” from SafeSport's decision and also raised allegations that Kerry had sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl in Queensland, Australia, when he was 17.

This situation raises serious concern in the sports community, as the attempt to protect athletes and minors from potential offenses becomes even more important. Cases of sexual offenses in sports have far-reaching consequences for both athletes' careers and the entire sports community trying to cope with these challenges. Kerry's situation draws public attention and underscores the need for strengthened systems to protect minors in sports.