Olympic snowboarders are suing coach and others for alleged sexual abuse

Olympic bronze medalist Rosey Fletcher is one of three former U.S. snowboarders to sue their ex-coach, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Federation and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee over allegations of sexual abuse that the organizations say they are covering up, it turned out from court documents.

Fletcher, a 2006 Olympic bronze medalist, Erin O’Malley and Callan Chythlook-Sifsof sued former coach Peter Foley and the sports authorities in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Thursday.

They allege that for “almost twenty years” Foley committed sexual assault and assault against them and other women with the “assistance, consent, and approval” of the USOPC and the USSS.

The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified monetary damages, alleges that Foley exploited his position of trust with the athletes to “coerce sexual acts through force, manipulation, emotional abuse, harassment and retaliation.”

“Foley’s abuse was reported to USSS and USOPC executives on numerous occasions by multiple athletes coached by Foley, but no action was taken,” the lawsuit alleges.

In a separate lawsuit filed Thursday, former USSS communications officer Lindsey Nikola alleged sexual misconduct by Foley.

“We are aware of the lawsuits that have been filed,” US Ski & Snowboard said in a statement.

“US Ski & Snowboard has not yet received the complaint and has not had the opportunity to fully review it. US Ski & Snowboard is and will continue to be an organization that prioritizes the safety, health and well-being of its athletes and employees.”

The federation also reiterated in its statement that it had reported allegations of misconduct against Foley to the U.S. Center for SafeSport in 2022.

“This matter is currently under investigation by SafeSport, which has full jurisdiction over such matters,” the federation said.

The USOPC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chythlook-Sifsof went public on social media with allegations of sexual misconduct against Foley in February 2022, when Foley coached the US team at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

She said on her Instagram account that “Peter Foley has been taking nude photos of female athletes for over a decade” and made a sexual comment to her and a teammate when she was just 17 in Lake Louise, Canada, in 2014.

Foley received support from snowboarders on the Olympic team last February. He was fired by USSS in March after being temporarily suspended by the US Center for SafeSport.