A lawsuit filed against USA Taekwondo claims that the organization failed to protect several athletes from being sexually assaulted by a coach while they were minors. Although a lower court originally declined to charge the organization, a three-judge California appeals court has reversed the decision and remanded the case back to a trial court.

Athletes Sue USA Taekwondo Over Sexual Abuse Claims

According to plaintiffs, Brianna B., Yazmin B., and Kendra G., USA Taekwondo coach Marc Scott Gitelman raped them during car trips and hotel stays related to the athletes’ taekwondo competitions.

According to the plaintiffs, sexual abuse of child and teen athletes is so common that national governing bodies of athletic organizations are required to have specific insurance to cover sexual assault.

The three women claim that the athletic organization knew that coach Gitelman posed a substantial risk to athletes, and failed in its duty to protect the athletes from being subjected to sexual abuse by their coach as minors according to Law360.

The panel that reversed the initial ruling in the case agrees with the athletes, stating, “As the national governing body of taekwondo, ‘USAT is responsible for the conduct and administration of taekwondo in the United States.’”

The women claim that they were abused by Gitelman between 2007 and 2013 and that the abuse began when they were 15 or 16 years old. Yazmin and Kendra claim that Gitelman used alcoholic drinks and a drinking game to lower their defenses and make it easier for him to abuse them.

All of the women claim that Gitelman did not go to great lengths to cover up his abuse of the young women and that his predatory behavior was common knowledge in USA Taekwondo.

They claim that USA Taekwondo received frequent complaints from athletes and their parents regarding sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior from coaches.

Additionally, although USA Taekwondo’s code of conduct prohibits sexual relationships and any non-consensual contact between coaches and athletes, the women claim that the organization had no policies prohibiting coaches from traveling alone with minor athletes to competitions or staying in the same hotel room.

The LA Times reports that in 2015, Gitelman was convicted of several felony counts, including sexual contact with a different minor and sentenced to more than four years in prison.

Sexual Abuse Law Updates May Aid Victims

Victims in several states that have recently updated their sexual assault laws may be able to file lawsuits against their abusers or the organizations that covered up for them, regardless of the amount of time since the abuse occurred.

Most states that have updated their sexual abuse laws have also allowed for a year-long lookback window, during which victims whose cases have expired under the previous laws may be able to file civil and criminal charges against their abusers.

The USA Taekwondo Sexual Abuse Lawsuit is Case No: B280550, in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appellate District.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.