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A lawsuit filed in New York is turning bobsledding in the US upside down. Pusher Aja Evans (35) makes serious accusations against the chiropractor of the American bobsled team. The man’s name is Jonathan Wilhelm, he is a doctor and has been active in ice rink sports for years, but also for athletes from other countries during international competitions.
According to ESPN, Evans accuses the chiropractor of serious sexual abuse during treatment sessions. Inappropriate touching is alleged to have occurred at the first appointment in 2012, when the bobsled athlete was being treated for a hip injury.
Complainant Evans won Olympic bronze in Sochi
“The repeated harassment and assault damaged me physically and emotionally to the point where I experienced chronic anxiety and lost my love for the sport of bobsled,” Evans said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.
The American won Olympic bronze in the two-man bobsleigh in Sochi (Russia) in 2014 and participated in the World Championships for many years. She is currently suspended for two years since November 2022 due to a missed doping test.
She had repeatedly drawn attention to the American Association’s grievances against chiropractors, but these were ignored.
Athletes report good experiences
The case of Lolo Jones (41) seems very different: the former hurdler pushed bobsleigh for years at the World Cup and at the Olympic Games. Jones writes in an Instagram story: “In over a decade with Dr. Jon Wilhelm has never experienced anything other than professional and respectful treatment. May God provide justice in the courtroom.”
Lolo Jones’ statement is also shared by Nadja Pasternack (27), the best Swiss pusher who is currently on maternity leave. Pasternack writes: “Like Lolo Jones, I have had nothing but positive, professional and respectful encounters with Dr. Jon Wilhelm. I am still very grateful that he helped me and my partner when we were both struggling with injuries.” Pasternack’s partner is the French former bobsleigh pilot Romain Heinrich (33).
Austrian driver Katrin Beierl (30) also acquitted the accused chiropractor on social media.
He spoke to ESPN through his lawyer. «Dr. Wilhelm completely denies these unfounded accusations (…) and looks forward to having them verified as unfounded.” It is still unclear when the case will actually be heard in court.
Source : Blick
I’m Emma Jack, a news website author at 24 News Reporters. I have been in the industry for over five years and it has been an incredible journey so far. I specialize in sports reporting and am highly knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in this field.
