Skiing Community Reckonsโ with Culture ofโข Silence Following Abuse Allegations
PARIS -โข Explosive revelations surrounding former โFrench ski champion Joรซl Chenal have ignited a fierce debate within โthe French skiing community, โฃexposing a deeply ingrained โcultureโ of protection โคand โคcomplicity. Formerโ Olympic skier Adrien duvillard, speaking to L’รquipe, described the environment โคas a “republic of โคfriends” where reciprocal favors and a reluctance toโ disrupt the status quo allegedly allowed abuse to persist.
DuvillardS comments โคcome after allegations surfaced โคregarding chenal’s inappropriateโฃ behavior, including requestsโ for explicit photos from young athletes.While Chenal has not been โformally charged,โ the case โhas prompted โwidespread soul-searchingโค and accusations that officials prioritized protecting a celebrated athlete over safeguarding vulnerable individuals. duvillard asserts thatโ key figures withinโค the French Ski Federation (FFS) โandโฃ the International โSki Federation (FIS) โคwere aware โคof โthe issues but choseโ inaction,โ fearing โฃnegative publicity. “they say โthere โwasโ no evidence. They โhadโ to know, it’s not possible otherwise,” โDuvillard stated. He specifically named current FFS president Fabien โฃSaguez andโ FISโฃ secretaryโข general Michel โฃVion – formerly the FFSโ president – as โholdingโ positions of power to intervene.
The core of the problem,accordingโ to duvillard,lies in โa system where personal connections trump accountability. “We liveโค in aโ republic of friends. I protect you, you protect โme. โEveryone knows each other,” heโ explained. This dynamic, โฃhe argues, fostered an environment where concerns wereโ dismissedโค andโ victims โคwereโค silenced. Duvillard emphasizes that Chenal shouldโ not be solely blamed, suggesting a broader pattern of abuse exists within the sport.
In response to the crisis, Duvillard has launched the association Free Track, offeringโข a confidential support network for victims of harassment, abuse, โคand mistreatment in board sports. Backed by fellow former champions including Franck Piccard, Marion Rolland, and Jean-Luc โCretier, Free Track โขprovides access to psychologists, legal โขcounsel, and volunteer lawyers. The association’s โคmessage is clear: “As a boardโ sportsโฃ practitioner, doโข you feel harassed, abused, mistreated or discriminated โagainst?โ We are listening to you. We will helpโ you, seriously, respectfully and kindly.”
Free Track aims โฃto fundamentally shift theโฃ culture within skiing, advocating for a system โฃwhere athlete safety โand well-being are prioritized over performance and reputation. “It is time to build โฃaโ sport where performance no longer justifies silence,”โ the association states, emphasizing the obligation of coaches as educators and role models.
