- Brendan Kerry accused of sexual misconduct with a minor
- The US Center for SafeSport has issued him a lifetime ban.
- The three-time Olympian has declared his innocence
An Australian Winter Olympics flag bearer will appeal a lifetime ban in the United States for alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor.
Brendan Kerry, a triple Olympic figure skater who was Australia’s joint flag bearer at the Beijing Winter Games in 2022, has been permanently suspended by the US Safe Sports Center.
Kerry, 29, says he is innocent.
“After hearing nothing from the American Center for SafeSport for nearly three years… I received their decision without any prior notice, sanctioning me for alleged violations I did not commit,” Kerry said in a statement.
“That decision is not final and I intend to challenge this suspension and request arbitration before a neutral arbitrator as is my right.”
Three-time Winter Olympian Brendan Kerry (pictured) will appeal a lifetime ban in the United States for alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor
The Sydney-born athlete has been permanently suspended by the US Center for SafeSport.
American figure skater Gracie Gold has also made an accusation against Kerry, but she was not a minor at the time of that alleged crime.
Kerry, who has won seven consecutive Australian figure skating titles since 2013, was a registered coach in US Figure Skating in the 2016-17 season when the misconduct is alleged to have occurred.
ESPN cited a confidential summary of an investigation into Kerry by SafeSport, the US Olympic movement’s sexual misconduct watchdog.
SafeSport also investigated an allegation that Kerry forced a second skater to have non-consensual sex at a party in 2016, but found insufficient evidence to prove that claim.
American figure skater Gracie Gold told ESPN she is the second skater.
Kerry’s ban only applies in the US, where SafeSport has jurisdiction, but has stopped training at Sydney’s Macquarie Ice Rink by mutual agreement with Australian figure skating authorities.
The Australian Professional Skaters Association said it would carry out its own investigation.
Brendan Kerry (pictured, representing Australia at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing) has been accused of having sex with a 16 or 17-year-old figure skater.
The 29-year-old (pictured at the 2018 Winter Games) denies all allegations and does not face any criminal charges.
Figure skater Gracie Gold told ESPN that she had nonconsensual sexual relations with Kerry. However, there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegation that the Australian has not faced any criminal charges.
The Australian Olympic Committee and Ice Skating Australia (ISA) were unaware of SafeSport’s investigation until the sanction was published on Wednesday AEDT time.
Kerry has won eight Australian figure skating titles, including seven in a row, and competed at the Winter Olympics in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
He retired after the Beijing Games two years ago, when he recorded his best Olympic result, 17th. Kerry placed 29th in 2014 and 20th in 2018.