Suspended basketball coach from Alava who was reported by a player for sexual assault

The Alava Basketball Association suspended the record of a coach after learning that he had been denounced by a alleged sexual assault by the player junior category during the last season.

Last year, the player participated in the junior category of the Toju Basketball Club, founded in 2009, and younger. This season, the plaintiff and the defendant no longer shared a team or club.

The disgraced coach was also a part Baskonia young category -club different from the one where the events took place- and continued this season. The Baskonista club also removed him after learning of the complaint.

In a statement, the federation explained that “after learning about the filing of the report for the alleged commission of the criminal offense of sexual abuse” and “in order not to harm the federal activity”, the Board of Directors gave its consent to “suspend and remove the reported person from any federal activity” while are not resolved by police and/or judicial actions initiated following a complaint Respecting the “right to the presumption of innocence”, the Federation expressed “strong solidarity and unconditional support for the applicant”.

“We reject and deeply regret any behavior that threatens the personal integrity and freedom of women, relying on and defending the model of fair and equal relations,” reads the document of the Federation signed by its president Luis Miguel Corres.

“Any type of attitude, comment, harassment, intimidation or aggression that undermines the dignity or attacks the moral, sexual and/or gender integrity of any basketball training participant is completely intolerable, reprehensible and reprehensible,” the subject condemned in a statement.

The Association reminded that all members, players, coaches, clubs and referees “have the right to enjoy basketball, without feeling insecure because of their gender.”

The accused coach also worked in the structure of Baskonia, where he continued this season, even though the alleged aggression took place in another club. The Barcelona entity also issued a statement after learning of the facts and reported that the coach was sacked “immediately, always respecting the right to be presumed innocent”. In the said press release, Baskonia expressed that it “rejects and condemns any kind of violent attitude in sports”.

Late in the day, Basketball club Toju, in which both individuals involved in the alleged reported events agreed, issued another statement condemning “any act of violence on the sports field that threatens the personal integrity of any player.” CB Toju expressed “its maximum support for the complainant, always respecting the right to the presumption of innocence of the person under investigation.”

The entity also clarified that “the alleged events, which took place during the period corresponding to the 2021/2022 season, were at no time brought to the attention of the club.”