The current Secretary General of the International Biathlon Union (IBU), Max Cobb, has apologised for the decades-long abuse of biathletes. During a virtual annual meeting this week, Cobb expressed remorse about the biathletes who were victims of abuse under his leadership roles in the United States Biathlon Association. This apology came after the publication of an Associated Press report which highlighted significant flaws within the organisation.
Cobb voiced: “I deeply regret any mistreatment athletes experienced during my time at U.S. Biathlon.” He described the biathletes who spoke up as “incredibly brave and important.”
The Associated Press report which was released a week before Cobb apologised exposed that female biathletes had suffered abuse and sexual harassment since the 1990s. The United States Biathlon Association is said to have ignored this, only caring about sporting success and medals.
Grace Boutot, for example, accused two coaches of abuse: Gary Colliander and Vladimir Cervenka. She was just 15 when it started. Boutot said she faced abuse by then-U.S. Biathlon junior team coach Vladimir Cervenka of the Czech Republic, starting in 2007. He caressed her buttocks and legs, she said, and also grabbed other girls and gave “good luck pats.”
She said that she attempted suicide as U.S. Biathlon failed to acknowledge the seriousness of her situation and undertake an investigation. Boutot intensely reprimanded Cobb and other board members during the zoom meeting. She voiced: “Others knew what had happened and did nothing.”
Cervenka responded: “I absolutely did not kiss her or grope her body. Regarding inappropriately touching Grace, I have no memory of any of that and I for sure did not have any intention of doing that. All these accusations are absurd and very upsetting.”
Boutot also expressed anger at SafeSport. This organisation imposed a six-month suspension on one of the accused coaches. Boutot expressed that this was not good enough considering that she is facing a “life sentence” due to trauma.
Additionally, Colliander was hired in December 2016 by the U.S. Paralympic team, where he is Associate Director of High Performance for U.S. Paralympics Nordic Skiing. This also highlights the dismissal of Boutot’s accusations.
Furthermore, two-time Olympian Joan Wilder accused her coach of attempting sexual assault. It is said that Cobb dismissed Wilder’s accusations.
Cobb denied the women's allegations that he failed to respond: “During my 33 years at U.S. Biathlon, athlete safety was always fundamental to me and I can't recall ever hearing from athletes or others that my efforts in this regard were not appropriate.”
Olympian Joanne Reid provided a similar account. She expressed that she suffered sexual harassment from a ski wax technician for years. However, she was told it was “part of European male culture.” She was also scolded for speaking up.
A U.S. Biathlon employee has been put on administrative leave in response to these revelations. SafeSport has also responded by investigating U.S. Biathlon’s CEO Jack Gierhart and High Performance Director Lowell Bailey for alleged retaliation.
An independent audit by Vestry Laight was also undertaken. Laight was employed to investigate U.S. Biathlon’s internal team. Laight confirmed that it was a misogynistic organisation and highlighted the presence of retaliation.
CEO Gierhart voiced in the zoom meeting this week: “This is an ongoing process, a journey. We are committed to implementing changes to build a responsible and supportive team culture.”
However, Vice President of the Colorado Biathlon Club, Drew Hudon, responded: “They told us outright that they knew what was happening and didn’t investigate. That’s why we can’t trust this board to oversee the organisation or ensure athlete safety.” Hudon, like many others, believe that Cobb and the other board members who were present during the time of the abuse need to step down.
