During a 90-minute meeting on Tuesday, the Secretary General of the International Biathlon Union, Max Cobb, expressed his remorse to any athlete who experienced mistreatment during his time at U.S. Biathlon. His remarks came in response to concerns regarding athlete safety, highlighted by recent Associated Press reports.
“I commend anyone who comes forward with concerns, particularly regarding sexual misconduct, whether these issues are recent or longstanding. It requires immense courage to do so,” Cobb stated during the U.S. Biathlon Association’s annual meeting held via Zoom.
This marked Cobb’s first public statement since an AP report a week prior outlined allegations from women who claimed that officials turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse and harassment of female biathletes by their coaches and others, prioritizing medal wins over accountability for offenders. Many of these women reported experiencing a culture of abuse dating back to the 1990s and were forced to cut their athletic careers short while their male counterparts advanced in the sport. Biathlon is a combination of cross-country skiing and target shooting.
“I personally regret any mistreatment of athletes during my tenure with U.S. Biathlon,” Cobb said, reflecting on his rise from domestic team manager to CEO and now to his role with the IBU, the sport’s global governing body.
Cobb confirmed his intention to cooperate with an investigation by the U.S. Center for SafeSport concerning a coach accused of sexually abusing a young biathlete, which led her to a suicide attempt. He noted that SafeSport has exclusive jurisdiction over such investigations, limiting his ability to comment further.
However, Grace Boutot, the affected athlete who attended the virtual meeting, clarified that her case can be discussed publicly since she has not filed a complaint with SafeSport. She criticized a six-month suspension imposed on the coach, asserting that it pales in comparison to the lasting trauma she has endured.
Boutot, a silver medalist at the 2009 Youth World Championships, accused Cobb and other board members of neglecting to address the sexual abuse she experienced at the hands of two different coaches. “Others knew what happened, yet they did not reach out to investigate post my suicide attempt,” she said.
Drew Hudon, vice president of the Colorado Biathlon Club, echoed Boutot’s concerns, stating that trust in the U.S. Biathlon board has eroded. This sentiment was shared by board Chairman Bob Hall, who had opened the meeting by stressing that athlete safety is a top priority and that allegations will be thoroughly investigated.
“The evidence was clear — they were aware and chose not to investigate,” Hudon asserted. “This exemplifies why I currently lack trust in this board’s capacity to safeguard the organization and uphold safety.”
In light of the AP report regarding Boutot’s case, an employee of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee was placed on administrative leave.
Both Boutot and two-time Olympian Joan Wilder reached out to the AP to share their experiences following reports of sexual harassment endured by two-time Olympian Joanne Reid from a ski wax technician on the World Cup circuit. Reid described being dismissed when she reported the abuse, being told it was simply part of male European culture, and subsequently facing retaliation.
SafeSport has initiated a new investigation into U.S. Biathlon CEO Jack Gierhart and High Performance Director Lowell Bailey concerning these retaliation allegations, although the completion timeline remains uncertain. SafeSport spokesperson Hilary Nemchik refrained from commenting on ongoing cases.
The report on Reid’s situation led U.S. Biathlon to commission an independent audit to assess team culture and safety measures. The resulting evaluation by auditor Vestry Laight revealed misogynistic behaviors present in the sport and a pervasive fear of retaliation among biathletes hesitant to speak out.
During the Tuesday meeting, Gierhart outlined the organization’s commitment to addressing auditor recommendations and fostering a more supportive and accountable team environment.
“This process is ongoing — it’s a journey,” he acknowledged. “We recognize the need for change, and we are dedicated to making it happen.”
Martha Bellisle, an amateur biathlete and multiple gold medalist in the master’s division for competitors aged 60 and over, has raced at various local events sanctioned by the U.S. Biathlon Association.
NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org
Source: APNEWS
