Austrian Ski Federation fires trainer accused of gang rape

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The Austrian Ski Federation (OSV) announced on Wednesday that a trainer accused of involving in a gang rape was fired but did not release the trainer's name or role.

"There are cases which can lapse legally but not in a moral sense. The OSV has to set an example, we expect all of our employees and trainers to have a spotless record," said Peter Schroecksnadel, the organization's president in a statement. He also expressed sympathy to the victim of the alleged incident.

The trainer was employed by the OSV years after the incident, and he was never convicted. The federation launched internal inquiries before they identified and interviewed the person. With some 450 athletes plus 200 staff and trainers, the OSV said that it has "zero tolerance" on sexual abuse while emphasizing that any allegation must be supported with proof.

Peter Schroecksnadel, president of the OSV. /VCG Photo

Nicola Spiess Werdenigg, a former Austrian Olympic skier, told the public in November 2017 that at the age of 16, she was raped by one of her male team colleagues in the 1970s. In February, Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung published a testimony by a member of Austria's World Cup team in the 1960s who accused former national trainer Charly Kahr of raping her.

In the same article, another former skier of Austria said that Kahr raped her as well. Investigations were launched into Kahr before prosecutors decided to close them because time elapsed since the alleged crime.

(Top image: Ski Resort Obertauern in Austria /VCG Photo)