Australian Olympic figure skater Brendan Kerry banned by US sport safety body for sexual misconduct

The US Center for SafeSport has permanently banned Australian Olympic figure skater Brendan Kerry for sexual misconduct involving a minor, the body says.

The ruling on Tuesday, which is subject to appeal, bans Kerry for life from any events or activities controlled by the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

Kerry, 29, competed at three Winter Olympics and was one of Australia’s two flag-bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Games, his last major international competition.

Kerry was a registered coach with US Figure Skating in the 2016-17 season, when the misconduct was alleged to have occurred.

The US Center for SafeSport declined to comment on Kerry’s case “to protect the integrity of our investigative process”.

It did, however, say that respondents in general have 10 days to request arbitration after a decision is made.

Ice Skating Australia (ISA) said in a statement it had been unaware of the USPOC’s investigation into Kerry or the sanction until its release on Wednesday morning Australia time.

“ISA is deeply committed to the safety and wellbeing of all athletes and considers this matter to be of the utmost seriousness,” the statement read.

“We are in the process gathering and considering all information available in relation to the determination by the US Centre for SafeSport.”

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said it was not aware of the accusations against Kerry until this morning’s media reportage.

Kerry has retired from Olympic competition and holds no positions relating to the AOC, the organisation said.

The US Center for SafeSport was established in 2017 with the aim of protecting athletes, particularly minors, from sexual abuse in Olympic sports programmes in the United States.

ABC/wires