![](https://i.imgur.com/CLvY2jA.png")
25-01-2024, 06:17 PM
BY MARTHA BELLISLE
Updated 5:00 PM GMT+8, January 25, 2024
U.S. Biathlon national champion Joanne Reid was sexually harassed and abused for years by a ski-wax technician while racing on the elite World Cup circuit
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When the two-time Olympian complained, she says she was told his behavior was just part of the male European culture.
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Teammate Deedra Irwin says she repeatedly had to step in to protect Reid.
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Wax technicians play a critical role in biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing with precision-rifle shooting, preparing skis for the day’s snow conditions so racers glide over the trails with ease. It was a power dynamic that left Reid vulnerable.
An athlete sexually harassed by a wax tech would have trouble making him stop, “out of concern it would jeopardize the athlete’s performance,”
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Still, it would take two years for U.S. Biathlon to bring the case to SafeSport
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Last May, six months after SafeSport concluded its investigation, U.S. Biathlon retroactively changed the criteria for being pre-qualified for the World Cup team — and Reid was bumped off. Reid had to start over, competing in qualifying races. The change didn’t affect the status of anyone else on the team.
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Irwin said female athletes were treated with disrespect, “and then everyone refuses to address it and calls it ‘part of European culture’ or ‘just a joke.’”
https://apnews.com/article/biathlon-sexu...6257f15542
Updated 5:00 PM GMT+8, January 25, 2024
U.S. Biathlon national champion Joanne Reid was sexually harassed and abused for years by a ski-wax technician while racing on the elite World Cup circuit
......
When the two-time Olympian complained, she says she was told his behavior was just part of the male European culture.
......
Teammate Deedra Irwin says she repeatedly had to step in to protect Reid.
......
Wax technicians play a critical role in biathlon, which combines cross-country skiing with precision-rifle shooting, preparing skis for the day’s snow conditions so racers glide over the trails with ease. It was a power dynamic that left Reid vulnerable.
An athlete sexually harassed by a wax tech would have trouble making him stop, “out of concern it would jeopardize the athlete’s performance,”
......
Still, it would take two years for U.S. Biathlon to bring the case to SafeSport
......
Last May, six months after SafeSport concluded its investigation, U.S. Biathlon retroactively changed the criteria for being pre-qualified for the World Cup team — and Reid was bumped off. Reid had to start over, competing in qualifying races. The change didn’t affect the status of anyone else on the team.
......
Irwin said female athletes were treated with disrespect, “and then everyone refuses to address it and calls it ‘part of European culture’ or ‘just a joke.’”
https://apnews.com/article/biathlon-sexu...6257f15542
