FIGURE SKATER SUSPENDED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND ORDERED TO PAY COSTS

 

The Swiss Sports Tribunal (TSS), on 14 October 2026, found a figure skater guilty of violating the sexual and psychological integrity of a minor athlete. The sanctioned individual has been suspended for three years and ordered to undergo coaching and pay procedural costs.

In September 2024, the Swiss sports reporting service for ethical breaches and abuse received a report alleging that a minor figure skater had been subjected to multiple non-consensual sexual acts by her ice dance partner.

Following an immediate review, Swiss Sport Integrity (SSI) imposed provisional measures against the accused athlete.

Subsequently, an investigation was launched, involving numerous interviews and the securing of evidence. In December 2025, SSI submitted its investigation report—along with its findings and recommendations—to the Swiss Sports Tribunal (TSS) for a decision. The TSS then initiated its own proceedings. A hearing was held before the TSS in June 2026, attended by the accused and SSI representatives, while the figure skater in question participated via video conference.

In its ruling, the TSS concluded that the minor athlete’s statements were credible and noted that the accused had a strong tendency to cross the boundaries of appropriate behaviour. The TSS found the figure skater guilty of multiple violations of the Ethics Statute regarding the infringement of sexual and psychological integrity. The athlete’s sexual integrity was violated by her ice dance partner, who committed various sexual acts against her between December 2022 and July 2024; these included unwanted physical contact, sexual harassment, encouragement of sexually inappropriate behaviour, exposure of genitals, coercion into performing sexual acts, and the display of pornographic material. The ice dancer also infringed upon the athlete’s psychological integrity by humiliating and shouting at her on the ice in the presence of others.

The TSS suspended the figure skater for three years, prohibiting him from participating in pairs figure skating. He is also banned from teaching, coaching, or assisting in the training of minor athletes—regardless of gender—for the duration of the suspension.

Furthermore, the sanctioned individual must complete a behavioural coaching programme consisting of at least 20 sessions and pay procedural costs amounting to 5,000 Swiss francs.

We act in sports disciplinary cases before the SSI and the TSS and further information is available from Dr Lucien Valloni by emailing him at valloni@valloni.ch.