Accusations of sexual misconduct towards a minor levied against former Olympic vice champion Joël Chenal, who won his title in Turin 2006, by a collective of seven women.
In a recent interview, Michel Vion, the current general secretary of the International Ski Federation and former president of the French Ski Federation (FFS), acknowledged past mistakes in the handling of sexual harassment allegations against Joel Chenal, a vice-champion of the giant slalom at the 2006 Turin Olympics.
Chenal is accused of sexually harassing several minor girls, with testimonies from at least seven skiers detailing a similar modus operandi. The allegations include initial approach via social media, flattery, discussions about skiing, and then SMS containing sexual content or photos.
Despite investigations in 2009 and 2015, and other complaints, the leaders of the FFS and other regional alpine committee members did not take action against Chenal's behaviour. An investigation by Le Monde reveals that there were "malfunctions at all levels" within the ski federation regarding Chenal's behaviour.
The leaders at the time hid behind closed cases of investigations against Chenal and other complaints that did not lead to action, to explain why they turned a blind eye to his behaviour or even allowed him to work with young girls with full knowledge of the situation.
Vion admitted that the FFS should have been more reactive and decisive in handling the Chenal case. He believes that the fault was collective, and he takes personal responsibility for it. He attributes the lack of awareness and fight against violence in sport at the time of the Chenal case as a contributing factor to the mishandling of the situation.
Vion also stated that the situation is different today, and the FFS is extremely vigilant about behaviour of this kind. He asserted that all dossiers submitted to the federation today receive serious follow-up.
It is worth noting that Chenal remained in the federal fold until 2017. Vion's interview suggests a shift in the FFS's approach to handling allegations of sexual harassment and violence in sport.
However, the interview does not provide new information on the specific actions taken or plans for addressing the issue within the FFS moving forward. It is advisable to consult official news outlets or French sports authorities for authoritative updates on this specific case.
Rumors about Chenal's inappropriate behaviour had been circulating in the ski community since the early 2000s. Chenal admits to having had sexual exchanges but denies any physical acts. For some of the victims, there were requests for meetings at Chenal's home or elsewhere.
Vion's acknowledgement of past mistakes and commitment to improving the handling of such cases in the future is a step towards creating a safer environment for athletes in the sport. It is crucial that the FFS continues to address these issues and ensure that all allegations of misconduct are handled promptly and appropriately.
The general secretary of the International Ski Federation, Michel Vion, expressed regret over the mismanaged handling of sexual harassment allegations against Joel Chenal, a former vice-champion of the giant slalom, in the realm of sports-and-justice. Despite previous investigations in 2009 and 2015, and subsequent complaints, Chenal's inappropriate behavior was not addressed, exposing malfunctions within the federation, underlining the need for increased vigilance in crime-and-justice matters.
