Latest news with #LeanderClub
ITV News
4 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
British Rowing defends safeguarding policy after Leander rower suspended
British Rowing has defended its safeguarding policies in the wake of severe criticism from multiple Leander Club rowers. The athletes were reacting to the suspension of a male athlete, who has been banned from rowing at the club or entering its premises, following new allegations. The same athlete was accused of sexually assaulting a female squad member in 2022, revealed in an investigation by ITV News. But it's understood British Rowing's decision to temporarily suspend him is not related to his conduct at Leander Club. One Leander rower told ITV News the allegations were ''alarming.'' ''The national governing body [British Rowing] and Leander continue to be slow to act and have outdated, inadequate safeguarding policies. Would this have happened if the stories hadn't hit national headlines?'' she said. ''The athletes want the sport to be safe and it's about time the appropriate measures are taken and procedures put in place,'' she added. In a statement given to ITV News, British Rowing said: 'We act on facts, not headlines. Our safeguarding processes rely on people coming forward directly so that concerns can be properly assessed and addressed. ''Media coverage doesn't determine our decisions, and suggesting otherwise misrepresents how safeguarding works.' The rower described British Rowing's statement as 'inflammatory.' Another said: 'No one is saying British Rowing is to blame for the allegations, that lies only with the perpetrators, but people are asking, what are they doing to make rowing a safe sport for everyone? I don't think it's too much to ask.' The governing body told ITV News it was also ''reassessing how we investigated the information we received at the time'', about the serious sexual assault at Leander Club. The news of the rower's suspension was first reported by The Telegraph. Leander Club is Britain's most prestigious rowing club, with 21 medal rowers bringing home medals from the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris. Earlier this month, ITV News revealed Leander Club had carried out two investigations into its male athletes. One was accused of the serious sexual assault in 2022; the other was investigated for harassment last year. The alleged victims were female rowers at Leander. Both men deny the allegations. The fall-out at Leander Club, which takes on 20 to 30 new athletes every year as members and boasts a host of Olympic champions as alumni, became so toxic that last season female rowers staged a walkout. The club's female rowers wore white ribbons on their kit to protest abuse and violence against women in the sport, and to signal their unhappiness with the club's handling of both investigations. "We didn't want to represent the same club as people who've been accused of things like that'', one rower told ITV News. ''We wanted to say, 'we're not okay with it, we stand together as a squad'... and will not stay silent.'' In a statement given to ITV News at the time, Leander Club said: 'We have strict procedures in place to carefully examine any formal complaints and regularly review our club disciplinary processes to ensure they are fit for purpose, treating our athletes fairly and with respect.''
Telegraph
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Rower accused of rape suspended by British Rowing over new allegations
A male athlete involved in an alleged rape scandal at one of the country's most successful rowing clubs has been suspended by British Rowing following new allegations. The governing body has opened a new investigation into the athlete, who was one of three men accused of sexual assault at Leander Club revealed in a Telegraph Sport investigation earlier this month. The new investigation launched by the sport's authorities does not relate to allegations of sexual assault at Leander Club, which supplied more than half of Team GB's rowers at the Paris Olympics. But in a development that raises new questions over the governing body's handling of those rape allegations, British Rowing told Telegraph Sport it was 'currently reassessing how we investigated the information we received at the time'. It follows an allegation that three male rowers had raped female squad members at the esteemed Henley-based club over the past five years. The newly suspended male was accused of raping an 18-year-old female squad member in 2022 after a team social in Henley. A second male athlete was suspended and later excluded after being accused of harassing a female squad member before being readmitted on appeal. He was later accused of rape by another female rower. A third man was alleged to have raped a female member in 2019 while a member at Leander, with his victim then forced to continue training with him. One Leander crew member described the alleged widespread rape culture at the club as 'the worst-kept secret in British rowing' after concerns by both men's and women's crews emerged that sexual assault allegations were not being taken seriously by the Leander Committee. The most recent rape allegation was reported to Leander in April 2023 and, while several conversations took place between police and the alleged victim, the athlete was allowed to continue rowing, even sharing the same facilities with Leander's women's crew and allowed on team socials. It is understood the man vehemently denies the allegations and says he has never raped or sexually assaulted anyone. His alleged victim gave a statement to Thames Valley Police but later withdrew her complaint and decided to 'stop the whole thing' because she found the process stressful and traumatising. The incident, however, triggered widespread alarm among both the women's and men's crews at Leander, with 33 athletes – more than half of Leander's squad that season – signing a letter that raised concerns to the club's committee about the alleged conduct of the individual. The letter, seen by Telegraph Sport, detailed 'multiple, serious allegations' against the man and requested Leander 'investigate these allegations as a matter of urgency and take appropriate action for the safety and well-being of other athletes'. It also claims that crew members were 'deeply uncomfortable' in his presence. Such was the strength of feeling on the issue that female rowers staged a training boycott and wore white white ribbons and pink vests during the 2024 regatta season, in a protest in plain sight. Several male members joined them in wearing the white ribbons in a sign of solidarity with victims of sexual abuse and rape.
The Guardian
06-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Allegations of rape at rowing club ‘deeply concerning' say Sport England and UK Sport
Allegations of rape and harassment at one of Britain's most prestigious rowing clubs have been described as 'deeply concerning' by Sport England and UK Sport. Both funding bodies have raised their concerns with British Rowing after the Telegraph reported there had been three separate alleged rape incidents involving male rowers within the past five years at the Leander Club, which supplied more than half of Team GB's rowers at the Paris Olympics. According to the Telegraph, the women rowers at the club had taken to wearing white ribbons and pink vests in 2024 to protest against what was described as 'the worst-kept secret in British rowing', and that several male members also joined them in protest. In a statement, Sport England, the funding body of grassroots sport in England, said it had raised the matter with British Rowing and urged the victims to go to the police. 'These are deeply concerning allegations regarding both behaviours and cultures, and our thoughts are with those who have been impacted,' it said. 'It is vital that sports clubs are safe and welcoming, and that all issues are investigated swiftly and properly. 'We encourage any individual who has experienced such behaviour to report directly to the police. Sport England has raised this matter with British Rowing, and we will continue to monitor the situation.' A similar message was conveyed by UK Sport, which funds elite sport across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 'Our thoughts are with those affected by the allegations which have recently been reported, and we take matters of integrity and safeguarding extremely seriously,' it said. 'We encourage any member of staff or athlete on Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes to report allegations of unacceptable behaviour to Sport Integrity, the confidential reporting line. In light of these deeply concerning allegations, we are in contact with British Rowing.' In a statement, the Leander Club said it took seriously all issues relating to the safeguarding its athletes. 'We have strict procedures in place to carefully examine any formal complaints and regularly review our club disciplinary processes to ensure they are fit for purpose, treating our athletes fairly and with respect,' it added. A British Rowing spokesperson said it was not able to comment on individual safeguarding concerns and processes conducted at clubs owing to their confidential nature. 'As such there is a very limited amount that we can say when we are approached in connection with issues that fall into this category,' it added. 'What we are able to say categorically is that the safety of people taking part in our sport is the very first item of importance on our agenda. We investigate anything reported to us fully and comprehensively, as you would expect and as it is our remit to do. This would have been the case if sufficient information had been raised with us to conduct an investigation in respect of the raised allegations.'
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
UK Sport demands answers in British rowing's rape scandal
UK Sport, the Olympic funding body, has made urgent contact with British Rowing following 'deeply concerning' allegations at Britain's most prestigious rowing club. Leander Club, which supplied more than half of Team GB's rowers at the Paris Olympics, has been accused of failing to properly investigate allegations of rape and harassment. Telegraph Sport has learnt of three separate incidents involving male rowers who allegedly raped female squad members at the esteemed Henley-based club over the past five years. Concerns from female squad members – which were supported by more than a dozen of the men's rowing team – that sexual assault allegations were not being taken seriously are said to have been repeatedly ignored or dismissed by the Leander committee. The male rowers have denied the rape allegations. British Rowing received around £26 million of public money at the Paris Olympic and paralympic cycle, an investment that has since been upped to more than £28 million ahead of the Los Angeles Games in 2028. UK Sport have previously instigated investigations following welfare concerns at governing bodies which include British Cycling and British Gymnastic. Following the Leander allegations, UK Sport said: 'Our thoughts are with those affected by the allegations which have recently been reported, and we take matters of integrity and safeguarding extremely seriously. 'We encourage any member of staff or athlete on Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes to report allegations of unacceptable behaviour to Sport Integrity, the confidential reporting line. In light of these deeply concerning allegations, we are in contact with British Rowing.' In response to Telegraph Sport's investigation, Leander said: 'Leander Club takes seriously all issues relating to the safeguarding of our athletes. We have strict procedures in place to carefully examine any formal complaints and regularly review our club disciplinary processes to ensure they are fit for purpose, treating our athletes fairly and with respect. 'In addition to an updated code of conduct, we have partnered with a specialist external provider to ensure members of the club know without doubt the standards we expect and the ways to highlight any individual misconduct. When issues are raised, we will continue to take immediate action where necessary to protect the welfare of our athletes.' A British Rowing spokesperson said: 'We are not able to comment on individual safeguarding concerns and processes conducted at clubs owing to their confidential nature. 'What we are able to say categorically is that the safety of people taking part in our sport is the very first item of importance on our agenda. We investigate anything reported to us fully and comprehensively, as you would expect and as it is our remit to do. This would have been the case if sufficient information had been raised with us to conduct an investigation in respect of the raised allegations.'
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leander Club updates code of conduct after claims
A prestigious rowing club says it has updated its code of conduct after being accused of failing to properly investigate sexual assault allegations. Women at the Leander Club, in Henley-on-Thames, walked out over personal safety fears and refused to train with male teammates as a result, an ITV News investigation reported. Both men accused of sexual assault and harassment denied the allegations. In a statement to the BBC, Leander's chairman Pete Bridge said athletes were "at the heart of this club" and that a "strict and confidential process" had been followed "to protect those involved". "We continually review our safeguarding measures and have updated these in line with our ambition to ensure rowing is inclusive and accessible for the next wave of athletes pursuing their dreams of international sporting success," he said. The club has been dubbed a "medal factory" for its record of supplying rowers at the Olympics and Paralympics over the years. But the ITV News report revealed disharmony at the club after two of its male athletes were accused of serious sexual assault and harassment 'Strict procedures' In the first case the club found ''insufficient evidence'' to launch a full disciplinary process, while the second was overturned on appeal. The accused was allowed to return to the club following a short led to female rowers refusing to use the club's gym at the same time as male members and protesting by wearing white ribbons on their response to the report, the club said: "Leander Club takes seriously all issues relating to the safeguarding of our athletes. "We have strict procedures in place to carefully examine any formal complaints and regularly review our club disciplinary processes to ensure they are fit for purpose, treating our athletes fairly and with respect."In addition to an updated code of conduct, we have partnered with a specialist external provider to ensure members of the club know without doubt the standards we expect and the ways to highlight any individual misconduct. "When issues are raised, we will continue to take immediate action where necessary to protect the welfare of our athletes." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
