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Former gymnast details alleged abuse from coaches in lawsuit – CTV News

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TORONTO –

Warning: Some readers may find details of this story disturbing.

For Amelia Cline, gymnastics had always been a part of her life. Training since the age of two, she quickly reached national levels by the age of six, fulfilling her dreams as a professional athlete. However, she says her aspirations were cut short after experiencing years of verbal and physical abuse within the sport.

Cline is among several former gymnasts filing a class-action lawsuit over allegations of physical and sexual abuse within programs under Gymnastics Canada. Provincial governing bodies in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec were also named in the lawsuit filed on Wednesday.

“We just want change in the sport,” Cline told CTV News on Wednesday in an interview detailing her alleged experience under coaches Vladimir and Svetlana Lashin at Omega Gymnastics Sports Centre in British Columbia.

In the last three years of her career, Cline alleges these coaches would psychologically and physically abuse gymnasts by calling them names or yelling at them over any mistakes made during practice. Cline said in one instance she was stretched over her bodily limits and fractured her hamstring.

“One of my coaches actually stretched my legs so forcibly that I tore my hamstring off my pelvis, and took part of my pelvis with it, so it was an avulsion fracture,” she said.

The gymnasts were also subjected to weekly public weigh-ins where any increase in weight would be shamed, she alleges.

At 13, Cline reached her breaking point with the sport when she said her coach forced her to attempt a vault after being injured for multiple weeks.

“I knew I wasn’t able to do it. He knew I wasn’t able to do it. But he insisted that I do it the day before a competition and he yelled at me and said I had to do it and compete it the next day,” she said.

After attempting the move several times, often landing on her head, she said she expressed concern over possibly breaking her neck. Instead of being medically examined, Cline said she was told she couldn’t complete the move because she weighed too much.

While a report was sent to Gymnastics B.C., an investigation was never concluded, she said, leaving the coaches to continue their careers for the next two decades without repercussions.

Cline publicly shared her allegations in a blog post after being inspired by the Netflix documentary ‘Athlete A,’ which followed the sexual abuse within USA gymnastics by former team doctor Larry Nassar.

Her post garnered responses from several gymnasts that began to share their own allegations of abuse within the sport.

“It really is not about me at all. It’s really just a conduit for what really is hundreds of voices that are demanding change,” Cline said.

In March, an open letter that amassed more than 400 signatures, including Cline, was sent to Sport Canada demanding a third-party investigation into these allegations. Canada’s Sports Minister Pascale St-Onge vowed to conduct an independent investigation by late spring, but Cline said there hasn’t been any real action taken.

The lawsuit, which is backed by more than a dozen former gymnasts, is not only asking for the prioritization of the physical and psychological health of athletes but coverage of health costs.

“One of the purposes of the lawsuit is to ensure that people who have been harmed and who are experiencing ongoing trauma and chronic pain can get the treatment that they need,” Cline said, including herself. She continues to deal with pain from her injuries 20 years on.

”We just want to see the next generation of young gymnasts be safe in the sport because we love it.”

As of Wednesday evening, Gymnastics Canada told CTV News a statement from the organization is expected on Thursday. 

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PWHL MVP Spooner set to miss start of season for Toronto Sceptres due to knee injury

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TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.

The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.

She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.

Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.

Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.

The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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