UCI urges Polish Cycling Federation to cooperate in sex abuse scandal investigation
(Cyclingnews.com)

The UCI issued a statement urging the Polish Cycling Federation to cooperate with the Polish authorities in a scandal that has threatened to tear the national federation apart. `The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has learned from the news that there has been a recent audit reporting serious allegation of sexual misconduct towards riders as well as financial malpractice within the Polish Cycling Federation,` the UCI statement read. `With the athlete`s welfare at the core of its mission, the UCI wishes to reiterate its commitment to protecting riders against abuse of any form and at all levels.`ADVERTISEMENT The statement reflects a letter UCI president David Lappartient sent to Polish Federation`s president Dariusz Banaszek yesterday. A copy of it was made public by the federation on its website. `I have to reiterate that the UCI wishes to shed light on the serious allegations which were recently disclosed. To date, I have not received any evidence supporting the fact that the current administration of the Polish Cycling Federation would bear no responsibility whatsoever in connection with the said allegations,` Lappartient wrote, urging the federation to cooperate with the government. An audit of the finances of the Polish federation turned up witnesses who alleged sexual and financial abuse of athletes, some minors, from a former upper-level federation employee. The allegations were leaked to the media by a former board member. You can read more at Cyclingnews.com