Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) announced Wednesday that Nikolaj Sørensen, a competitive ice dancer, has been suspended from competing for a minimum of six years due to reports of “sexual maltreatment.”
Sørensen’s suspension follows an investigation by the OSIC into his alleged sexual assault of an American figure skater and coach in 2012, the alleged victim’s lawyer, former Olympic champion swimmer Nancy Hogshead, told CNN.
It’s still unclear whether the alleged assault was ever reported to police, or if an official investigation was ever conducted.
However, Hogshead confirmed to CNN that the OSIC investigation stems from an incident when her client was 22 and Sørensen was 23. While the report made by the alleged victim to the OSIC has not been released to the public, Hogshead says the alleged sexual assault occurred after a 2012 party in Hartford, Connecticut.
Now, Sørensen’s suspension is listed on the OSIC’s ‘Abuse-Free Sport’ portal and is subject to challenge or appeal. Sørensen is eligible to apply for a reassessment after 6 years.
The Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC) told CNN that both parties have 21 days to file an appeal with the Safeguarding Tribunal of the SDRCC.
In an Instagram post in January, Sørensen said he would fully cooperate with the investigation. “These allegations are false, and I intend to strongly defend myself and my reputation,” he wrote.
Sørensen also said in the post that he and his skating partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry would withdraw from the Canadian National and Skating Championships later that month believing their “participation would be distracting.” However, the duo returned to action at 2024 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in Shanghai, China, in early February where they finished end in the ice dance.
The International Skating Union (ISU) reported to CNN that it is withdrawing Sørensen from all ISU-recognized competitions and is “taking all the necessary measures to comply with the decision of ineligibility for an indefinite period.”
In a statement on the suspension, Skate Canada said it “has been made aware of the decision from Abuse-Free Sport in this matter and is taking the necessary action to comply with it.”
“The ban will be issued by Skate Canada,” the statement reads.
The alleged victim expressed thanks for all the support she has received in a statement sent to CNN by her attorney. She said that while the investigation process was “daunting,” she “cannot emphasize enough how important it is that abuse must be treated with extreme caution and cannot be rushed.”
“I hope the respondent will be able to finally take accountability for his actions and seek help to become a safe member of society outside of our sport,” she added. “I am sure that I am not the only survivor who was distraught to hear the supportive comments made about them on the air, completely belittling the experience of rape survivors and promoting the dangerous culture of victim silence in our sport. Please believe survivors and continue to support safe sport measures across borders and sports.”
