Athletes, teams and leagues confront abuse and bullying

Painful revelations of abuse and misconduct rocked the world of sport in 2021 as athletes from all levels of competition across the globe demanded greater accountability of trainers, coaches and the governing bodies that oversee them. A report released in October sent shockwaves through the National Hockey League (NHL) after an investigation found that the Chicago Blackhawks failed to act on allegations made by player Kyle Beach that video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Weeks after promoting fresh conversation around athletes’ mental health at the Tokyo Games, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles appeared before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to condemn USA Gymnastics, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and FBI for inaction in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. “I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” said Biles. Trainers for the Swiss Gymnastics Federation’s women’s team resigned en masse in September after in investigation upheld athletes’ claims of psychological abuse. Football Australia set up an independent complaints body in October after retired striker Lisa De Vanna said she had been the victim of sexual assault and harassment during her career.

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) was forced into a reckoning of its own as The Athletic in September outlined allegations of sexual abuse by former North Carolina Courage head coach Paul Riley, after speaking to more than a dozen players he had coached since 2010.