A group of Canadian gymnasts presented on Wednesday request versus national federation (Gymnastics Canada) and other sport organizations to tolerate a climate of abuse and mistreatment for decades.

“This action stems from the physical, sexual and psychological abuse of gymnasts in Canada while they were under the care and control of the provincial gymnastics organization in your jurisdiction and Gymnastics Canada,” reads a copy of the document obtained by AFP.

“At the World level, the sport of gymnastics has come under scrutiny for its culture of cruelty“, underlined the plaintiffs’ lawyers, noting that “a culture of control” and “abusive behavior led to creating an environment where abuse and mistreatment of athletes is common“.

The lawsuit was filed in Columbia Supreme Court. Britishthe westernmost province of Canada, where the lead applicant, a former gymnast Amelie Clin.

After giving up the sport as a teenager, Cthe line said it was taking legal action for “hold these institutions to account“for the abuses committed.

In an interview with AFP, Cline said he suffered “long-lasting lingering effects… from this abuse”.“, including physical and mental pain chronic.

The lawsuit names the national gymnastics federation, as well as the federations of six of the ten Canadian provinces: British Columbia, alberta, Saskatchewan, manitoba, Ontario Yes Quebec.

This legal action comes just over a month after a group of more than 70 gymnastsmany of whom have already left the competition, publish an open letter denouncing a “toxic culture and abusive practices that persist in canadian gymnastics“.

The letterthat already collected over 400 signatures, ask the federal government order one independent investigation after what the group responsible for the “Gymnasts For Change” campaign looks like “has nowhere” in his try enough to Gymnastics Canada is conducting an internal investigation and respond to their concerns.

“all disciplinesrhythmic, acrobatic, artistic, ‘tumbling’ and trampoline, are, to a certain extent, touched by this culture…and the mastery the trainers have developed over the decades,” said group spokeswoman Kim Shore. The liability system must change“, he pointed out.

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