Australian Olympic figure skater Brendan Kelly says he plans to appeal his lifetime suspension in the United States for sexual misconduct with a minor.
In Tuesday’s ruling, the U.S. Center for SafeSport banned Kelly from all events and activities managed by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
Mr Kelly has denied any wrongdoing and said he will contest the ban.
“After almost three years of not hearing anything from the U.S. Center for Safe Sport…I received, without any prior warning, a decision to sanction me for an alleged violation that I did not commit,” he said. Australian media said in a statement released on Thursday.
“The decision is not final and I intend to appeal the suspension and seek arbitration before a neutral arbitrator, which is my right.”
Kelly, 29, has competed in three Winter Olympics and was one of Australia’s two flag bearers at the opening ceremony of Beijing 2022, her last major international event.
He was USA Figure Skating’s registered coach during the 2016-17 season when the alleged misconduct occurred.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport was founded in 2017 to protect athletes, especially minors, from sexual abuse in the U.S. Olympic sports programs.
