Nikolaj Sorensen banned for six years for "sexual maltreatment"

[gsk8]

Timeline

Oct 2, 2024: Nikolaj Sorensen has been banned for a minimum of six years for “sexual maltreatment.”

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figure-skating/nikolaj-soerensen-suspension-sexual-maltreatment-figure-skating-1.7340440

Jan 9, 2024: Nikolaj Sørensen makes statement on Instagram acct

Jan 9, 2024: Team withdraws from Canadian Nationals


Jan 4, 2024: Canadian Olympic figure skater Nikolaj Sørensen, one of the world’s top-ranked ice dancers, is being investigated by Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner for the alleged sexual assault of an American figure skating coach and former skater on April 21, 2012, according to documents and emails obtained by USA Today Sports.

 

[Sabsi]

I wouldn't have expected that. But finally there is a decision on that case.

Edit: I found it very strange to see him at competitions last season despite the most serious allegations as if all of this were nothing. And yes, there is always a presumption of innocence, but a little more sensitivity would have been appropriate.

 

[el henry]

Here is the CBC article. Evidently, from a procedural point of view, the Abuse Free Sport recommends but does not issue the ban. Skate Canada says in this article that they intend to issue the ban.

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/figure-skating/nikolaj-soerensen-suspension-sexual-maltreatment-figure-skating-1.7340440

 

[saine]

Skate Canada has removed him and Laurence Fournier Beaudry from the Events page for Shanghai Trophy, Skate America and NHK Trophy. I expect the removals will be reflected in the formal entries soon.

Events

Explore Skate Canada events! Find upcoming figure skating competitions, schedules, and ticket info for events across Canada.

skatecanada.ca

 

[el henry]

The CBC article says that there is appeal process available for the suspension. Do any of our Canadian friends (or anyone else) know what that entails?

 

[saine]

The CBC article says that there is appeal process available for the suspension. Do any of our Canadian friends (or anyone else) know what that entails?

The most information I could find was that there's 21 days to appeal within receiving the report. It's located here, under 5, Right to Challenge on page 7.

https://sportintegritycommissioner.ca/files/ABUSE-FREE_SPORT_POLICY_REGARDING_VIOLATIONS_AND_SANCTIONS.pdf

How long the process takes, I'm not sure. Canadian coach Tyler Myles is in the process of appeal for his ban that was issued in February.

 

[Sabsi]

Here is the Statement written by the survivor’s attorney:

 

[saine]

In addition to their removal from the Events page, Fournier Beaudry/Soerensen have also been removed from the National Team page, likely indicating that they are no longer part of it:

Skate Canada National Team

The National Team comprises those athletes who meet the following criteria: Top three in senior singles, pairs, and ice dance disciplines at the 2025 Canadian National Skating Championships Assigned to a 2025/2026 ISU Grand Prix event at the ISU Grand Prix Selection meeting Competing in...

skatecanada.ca

He has also been added to the list of Suspended Individuals maintained by Skate Canada - https://lamp.skatecanada.ca/suspended-en.pdf

 

[Kris135]

The ISU needs to follow up and ban him from their competitions because there is chance he could go back to Denmark and reboot his career there.

 

[saine]

The CBC article says that there is appeal process available for the suspension. Do any of our Canadian friends (or anyone else) know what that entails?

I'm responding again because I found the information on the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, who would be the ones to hear the appeal - https://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/eng/documents/Code_SDRCC_2023_-_EN.pdf

It is covered under Article 8, 8.6 covers challenging sanctions and 8.7 covers grounds for challenging decisions on sanctions. Decisions are published on the site.

Here is a recent decision involving an appeal on an OSIC sanction - https://www.crdsc-sdrcc.ca/resource_centre/pdf/English/1102_SDRCC 23-0682.pdf

 

[surimi]

Not going to lie, I am sad to see this very talented couple effectively end their career like this. I enjoyed seeing them skate.
But Nikolai has obviously been found guilty, and he only has himself to blame for their early retirement and lost competing/coaching opportunities.
Hopefully, this ruling will encourage victims not to be intimidated and report crimes/misconduct earlier, rather than suffer in silence for years. It's sad that it only took Nikolai's announced plans to coach to make the victim file a report. Obviously, she didn't have faith she'd get justice if she spoke up against a well-known and well-liked skater.
I feel sorry for Laurence in this. It's got to be hard to see a loved one you trust, convicted of something you didn't think was possible for them to do. Hopefully she and the victim can heal in time.

 

[TallyT]

Obviously, she didn't have faith she'd get justice if she spoke up against a well-known and well-liked skater.

Given recent history and the reactions when such skaters are named... she had good reason.

 

[gravy]

Good riddance! Don't let the door hit ya on your way out.

 

[DancingCactus]

Don't know what to say. Goes to show that as a fan you can never know what's really going in behind the fassade.

 

[saine]

Statement from the survivor provided to Christine Brennan:

 

[Rebecca Moose]

I will not miss looking at his smarmy face.

 

[Skating91]

Has it become a police matter yet?

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Has it become a police matter yet?

It won't ever become a police matter - Connecticut (where the incident happened) introduced a 5-year statute of limitations just months before the incident took place.

 

[Jumping_Bean]

Some more alleged information (mostly via TSL, so take it with a grain of salt):

• IAM will be complying with the OSIC ruling and Sorensen won't be allowed to train or coach at IAM.
• Gabriella Papadakis specifically requested to not train on the same ice as Sorensen, leading to a fall-out with Guillaume, who has remained close friends with Sorensen.
• The evidence accepted by OSIC includes message records, photos and videos, medical records and first hand accounts by witnesses
• Photos of the party (at which the incident supposedly took place) were available on social media until shortly after the case became public and were then deleted. This made it easy for investigators to identify possible witnesses.
• Andrew Lavrik was heard as a witness for Nikolaj Sorensen, his testimony was however contradictory and ended up helping the victim
  • Lavrik himself was criminally charged due to criminal sexual contact with a child and endangering the welfare of a child. While suspended by SafeSport, he continued coaching skaters without a USFS liscence
• Sorensen is now the fourth person with ties to the central Connecticut skating community to be banned for sexual misconduct (Andrew Lavrik was one of those bans, he is not currently banned anymore), two others were investigated by SafeSport for multiple years

 

[TallyT]

Some more alleged information (mostly via TSL, so take it with a grain of salt):

• IAM will be complying with the OSIC ruling and Sorensen won't be allowed to train or coach at IAM.
• Gabriella Papadakis specifically requested to not train on the same ice as Sorensen, leading to a fall-out with Guillaume, who has remained close friends with Sorensen.
• The evidence accepted by OSIC includes message records, photos and videos, medical records and first hand accounts by witnesses
• Photos of the party (at which the incident supposedly took place) were available on social media until shortly after the case became public and were then deleted. This made it easy for investigators to identify possible witnesses.
• Andrew Lavrik was heard as a witness for Nikolaj Sorensen, his testimony was however contradictory and ended up helping the victim
  • Lavrik himself was criminally charged due to criminal sexual contact with a child and endangering the welfare of a child. While suspended by SafeSport, he continued coaching skaters without a USFS liscence
• Sorensen is now the fourth person with ties to the central Connecticut skating community to be banned for sexual misconduct (Andrew Lavrik was one of those bans, he is not currently banned anymore), two others were investigated by SafeSport for multiple years

What seems clear is that IAM are a very very shady group...