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'Profoundly sorry' over abuse of athletes
The Straits Times
|December 16, 2024
Athletics Australia on Dec 14 said it was "profoundly sorry" over allegations that celebrated pole vault coach Alex Parnov groomed, sexually harassed and inappropriately touched multiple young women in his care.
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SYDNEY -
Russia-born Parnov worked at the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) between 1998 and 2019, when he quit after an investigation into claims of inappropriate behaviour was launched.
He has never been tried or convicted over the accusations and attempts by AFP to reach him via social media were not immediately successful.
Parnov coached some of Australia's greatest Olympic champions, including Paris gold medal-winning pole vaulter Nina Kennedy and Steve Hooker, who won the title at Beijing 2008.
An investigation by The Australian newspaper alleged he preyed on a succession of vulnerable young women, many of whom complained but were reportedly told he was too important to the sport's success to be sacked.
This story is from the December 16, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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