U.S. Ski and Snowboard under fire

Photo: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team

A bombshell accusation has been lodged against U.S. Ski and Snowboard.

ABC further reported on the story on March 23 detailing potentially very serious SafeSport violations.

ESPN reported that the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a watchdog organization authorized by Congress to police sexual abuse in U.S. amateur sports, notified their congressional oversight committee that USSS may have interfered in the sexual conduct investigation centered around USSA Snowboard coach Peter Foley. Then Sen. Chuck Grassley sent a letter to USSA’s CEO Sophie Goldschmidt and General Counsel Alison Pitt obtained by ESPN. “The reports shared by the Center are very troubling. They allege that U.S. Ski and Snowboard has been conducting its own investigation outside of the investigation being conducted by the Center, has failed to make notifications regarding sexual misconduct to the Center, and has failed to timely provide the Center with evidence in the possession of U.S. Ski and Snowboard,” Grassley said in the letter.

“Further, it has been reported that U.S. Ski and Snowboard has actively provided misinformation to individuals involved in the investigation in an effort to discourage participation in the Center’s investigation.” Grassley also referred SafeSport’s concerns to the FBI.

USSS, in a statement on Wednesday, said, “U.S. Ski and Snowboard is aware of the concerns raised by Senator Grassley’s office, and takes the concerns seriously. Still, U.S. Ski and Snowboard disagrees that it has not acted in accordance with its obligations or with the expectations of the Center, including reporting all information that was brought to our attention to the center in real-time.”   

In what is believed to be an internal statement dated March 24, obtained by Ski Racing Media, USSS CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said, “In recent days, we have heard from the U.S. Center for SafeSport that the Center believes U.S. Ski and the Snowboard did not fulfill our obligations. This is not the case. As early as February 2022, our staff has been in regular and immediate communication with the Center, including reporting to the Center all pertinent information that was brought to our attention real-time. Our own independent workplace investigation resulted in Peter Foley being placed on interim suspension with no athlete contact on February 21 and terminated on March 20, 2022.

Unfortunately, we learned yesterday that a board member did have contact with the claimants in the case that were former teammates. The board member recognizes that this was a lapse in judgment and did not comply with SafeSport’s or U.S. Ski and Snowboard’s Codes of Conduct. As of today, this member is no longer with U.S. Ski and Snowboard.”   

The director that is no longer with USSS addresses one of the concerns. The other main concern revolves around the role of the USSS general counsel. USSS claims the internal investigation was a workplace investigation and that SafeSport was aware of it. That appears at odds with SafeSport’s report to the congressional committee. The allegations reported by ESPN and ABC are extremely serious and supported by multiple athletes. Mr. Foley denies the allegations.