A group of Canadian gymnasts filed on a Wednesday request against 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 the creating an environment where abuse and mistreatment of athletes is common“.

The lawsuit was filed in Columbia Supreme Court. Britishthe westernmost province of Canadawhere the main plaintiff, the former gymnast, lives Amelie Cline.

After leaving the sport as a teenager, Cthe line said it was taking legal action to “hold these institutions accountablefor 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 provinces of Canada: British Columbia, alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, ontarian 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 to denounce a “toxic culture and abusive practices who persist in canadian gymnastics“.

The letterthat already collected more than 400 signatures, ask the federal government to order one independent investigation after what the band behind the “Gymnasts For Change” campaign says that “didn’t go anywhere” in his He tried about what Gymnastics Canada is conducting an internal investigation and address your concerns.

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

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