Canadian figure skater suspended for a minimum of six years following rape allegation

35-year-old Canadian Olympic figure skater, Nikolaj Sørensen, has been suspended by Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) as he is currently under investigation for an alleged sexual assault on an American coach and previous skater in 2012.

Sørensen is refuting this allegation which still needs to be determined in court. Sørensen has been prohibited from the sport by Skate Canada for a minimum of six years. The governing body voiced that “it has been made aware of the decision from Abuse-Free Sport in this matter and is taking the necessary action to comply with it.”

The allegation against Sørensen which was taken to the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner, created in 2022, and the US Centre for Sports Safety was revealed earlier this year. It is said that Sørensen raped the claimant in Connecticut. She will be represented by Nancy Hogshead, an Olympic gold medallist swimmer and attorney.

Laurence Fournier Beaudry, Sørensen’s skating partner, agreed to refrain from the national championships alongside Sørensen as they believed too much attention would have been placed on them. However, they did go on to participate in the 2024 Shanghai Four Continents Championship afterwards where they won silver. Sørensen stated in January: “I will continue to fully cooperate with the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner’s investigation. Given OSIC’s Confidentiality Policy, I am unable to comment further.”

When contacted by CNN, the International Skating Union (ISU) said it is withdrawing Sørensen from all ISU-recognized competitions and is “taking all the necessary measures to comply with the decision of ineligibility for an indefinite period.”

“The ISU firmly believes that all athletes have the right to participate and develop in sport within a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment — free from any form of discrimination, harassment, abuse, violence, neglect, or exploitation … The ISU takes reports of misconduct with the utmost seriousness and recognizes the profound impact such cases can have on those involved.”

Hogshead, the victim’s lawyer, said “My client says she would not have come forward, except that she saw Nikolaj Sørensen was moving into coaching figure skaters and would be a risk of harm to many more girls and women, who would have no idea of the monster they were encountering.

“The process was lengthy and difficult for my client, but she is heartened by the fact that ultimately the skating community is safer and that he is being banned. In addition, she is hopeful more abused skaters will come forward; figure skating still suffers from a culture of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.”