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 three-time Olympian figure skater who was Australia’s co-flag bearer at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, has been permanently banned by the US Center for SafeSport.
Kerry, 29, says he is innocent.
“After not hearing from the US Center for SafeSport for almost three years…I received their decision without any prior warning, sanctioning me for alleged violations that I did not commit,” Kerry said in a statement.
“This decision is not final and I intend to contest this suspension and seek 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 banned by the US Center for SafeSport.
American figure skater Gracie Gold also filed a complaint against Kerry, but she was not a minor at the time of this alleged offense.
Kerry, who won seven consecutive Australian figure skating titles starting in 2013, was a registered coach with US Figure Skating during the 2016-2017 season when the misconduct allegedly occurred.
ESPN cited a confidential summary of an investigation into Kerry conducted by SafeSport, the U.S. 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 the claim.
American figure skater Gracie Gold has since told ESPN that she was the second skater.
Kerry’s ban only applies to the United States, where SafeSport has jurisdiction – but he has given up coaching at Sydney’s Macquarie Ice Rink by mutual agreement with Australian figure skating authorities.
The Australian Professional Skaters’ Association said it would conduct its own investigation.
Brendan Kerry (pictured, representing Australia at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing) has been accused of having sex with a skater aged 16 or 17.
The 29-year-old (pictured at the 2018 Winter Games) denies all allegations and faces no criminal charges.
Figure skater Gracie Gold told ESPN she had non-consensual sex with Kerry. However, there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegation that the Australian did not face any criminal charges.
The Australian Olympic Committee and Ice Skating Australia (ISA) were unaware of the SafeSport investigation until the sanction was handed down 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 after recording his best Olympic result, 17th. Kerry placed 29th in 2014 and 20th in 2018.