American fencers take a stand against sexual violence and against their teammate

Published on : 07/31/2021 – 08:21

Alen Hadzic is part of the US Olympic epee team. He is also accused by three women of sexual assault. Friday, July 30, on the sidelines of their match against Japan, his three teammates – Jake Hoyle, Curtis McDowald and Yeisser Ramirez – symbolically protested against his presence, wearing a pink mask. Alen Hadzic was the only one not to wear one.

Pink is a color often displayed in solidarity for women’s rights. In the United States, it is notably one of the rallying colors of the Women’s March.

Accused by three women

Alen Hadzic sportingly qualified for the Olympics in May 2021. Shortly after, three women accused him of sexual assault, allegedly taking place between 2013 and 2015. Through the voice of his lawyer, Alen Hadzic claims his innocence despite having confirmed that he was suspended from Columbia University in the 2013/2014 school year due to a sexual assault investigation.

Following these accusations, the US Center for SafeSport sportingly suspended him on June 2. Hadzic appealed the suspension and won. The judge ruled that Hadzic should not seek contact with his accusers, but also that his suspension was “disproportionate to the charges”.

However, he became persona non grata within the American delegation. He made the trip to Tokyo separately. It is also forbidden to stay in the Olympic Village and stay in a nearby hotel.

Measures that were imposed by the American fencing federation which does not welcome the presence of Alen Hadzic. USA Today got the email from the federation explaining these measures to the young man:

“The athletes on the team have expressed concerns for their safety and well-being due to your presence, which they believe is likely to negatively affect their mental and emotional abilities to prepare for and compete for the highest. levels required to succeed at the Olympic Games “, we read in this message justifying this” security plan “against Alen Hadzic.

Another member of the US team, Katharine Holmes, told USA Today that the entire fencing delegation had signed a petition against Alen Hadzic’s presence. If the latter’s lawyer claims that there is no such petition, the pink masks displayed suggest that his own teammates are against his presence. They did not wish to comment beyond measure after their action.

A substitute in the épée team, he did not make his debut against Japan and therefore will not have fought in these Olympic Games.

For some people, like Guardian columnist Andrew Lawrence, the case also illustrates a “double standard” of the authorities. African-American athlete Sha’Carri Richardson was kicked out of the team for smoking marijuana in order to mentally deal with his mother’s grief as Alen Hadzic, a white man accused of sexual assault, had the right to attend the Tokyo Olympics.