A group of Canadian gymnasts filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the national federation (Gymnastics Canada) and the sport's provincial bodies for tolerating a climate of abuse and mistreatment for decades.

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

“Around the world, gymnastics is under scrutiny due to its culture of cruelty”emphasized the plaintiffs' lawyers, emphasizing that “a culture of control” And “Abusive behavior has led to the creation of an environment in which abuse and mistreatment of athletes is common.”

The complaint was filed before the Supreme Court of British Columbiathe westernmost province of Canadawhere the main plaintiff, the former gymnast, resides Amelia Cline.

After giving up the sport as a teenager, Clin He said he was taking legal action for “hold these institutions accountable” for the abuses committed.

In an interview with AFP, Clin said to suffer “long-term persistent effects… of this abuse”including chronic physical and psychological pain.

The suit names the national gymnastics federation, as well as the federations of six of Canada's ten provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.

This legal action comes just over a month after a group of more than 70 gymnasts, many of whom have already left competition, published an open letter denouncing a “a toxic culture and abusive practices persist in Canadian gymnastics”.

The letter, which has already garnered more than 400 signatures, calls on the federal government to order an independent investigation into the group behind the campaign. Gymnasts for change declared that he “got nowhere” in his attempt to Gymnastics Canada Conduct an internal investigation and address your concerns.

“All disciplines, rhythmic, acrobatic, artistic, tumbling and trampoline, are, to some extent, affected by this culture… and by the mastery that coaches have developed over the decades”declared the group's spokesperson, Kim Shore.

“The accountability system must change”he pointed out.

© Agence France-Presse