ATHENS – Sex scandals in a Greece’s arts, athletics and media sectors have now included more female and male gymnasts complaining of alleged physical, sexual and psychological abuse by coaches, including at the national level.
A lawyer representing more than 30 of athletes said they will name those they claimed to be perpetrators but haven’t yet, nor have any of the accusers been named in what so far has been incidents shrouded in secrecy, going back decades.
The lawyer, who was not named by Kathimerini, said more details will be revealed but only before judicial authorities and prosecutors looking into the claims made anonymously through the media..
That came after an Athens prosecutor ordered a probe after 22 former athletes sent a letter to Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou reporting they had suffered harassment from coaches during their careers.
Their lawyer said that has led to more complaints, including from parents whose children are taking gymnastic lessons without any indication whether they still are.
“In the beginning we estimated that the incidents were about the period until 2010, but now I am receiving complaints for today as well,” said Alexandros Adamidis, who did not rule out the possibility of appealing to the European Court of Human Rights.
The lawyer said that the complaints concern “club coaches and coaches at the national team level” and added that “some people have positions and are still involved in sports,” the paper said.