clodagh stensonbbc south investigation
getty photosAn impartial investigation has confirmed that sexual harassment, racism and bullying occurred at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club.
The report was made by the college after a photograph of a so-called “toughness sheet” allegedly criticizing prime rowing workforce members was printed. Aired on-line in November 2024.
A abstract of the findings by regulation agency Pennington Manches Cooper was offered to the college in April and has been shared with the BBC by a contributor to the investigation.
Oxford Brookes University stated it had made “leadership and coaching changes” and that the membership now had “new, progressive structures” in place.
Heather, not her actual identify, was crusing at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club (OBUBC) and was interviewed as a part of the investigation.
He stated that whereas on the membership he witnessed sexual harassment in direction of girls and that athletes publicly weighing in was “rampant”.
Heather stated she instructed the boys's workforce to leap up and down topless, and “if any part of their body moved, they had to lose it”.
“I felt it was important to be a part of the investigation because I felt a lot of athletes wouldn't be able to speak about their experiences,” Heather stated.
She stated she additionally feels that Oxford Brookes has “minimised” problems with sexism, racism and bullying and that it has an obligation to be clear about “the culture of the club and what they are doing to improve it”.
What was discovered within the investigation?
The impartial investigation was carried out by regulation agency Pennington Manches Cooper, interviewing 41 present and former OBUBC athletes.
A abstract of the report was shared with the BBC by somebody who contributed to the investigation after which requested its findings by a Freedom of Information request.
The names of any people within the report had been redacted.
The investigation discovered:
- “Multiple and diverse examples” of gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
- Repeated violations of British Rowing's code of conduct, together with guidelines prohibiting coaches from having sexual relations with athletes
- Evidence of bullying, three incidents of “personal profanity”, and “racial insults”
- There has been an information safety breach and it has been steered that points of the membership's funds needs to be audited
- Breach of British Rowing's weight tips
- There was “repeated interference” in the course of the investigation
The report abstract advisable that disciplinary motion needs to be taken in opposition to some OBUBC members, a welfare officer needs to be appointed and there needs to be extra equality, range and inclusion coaching.
A spokesperson for Oxford Brookes University stated: “When concerns were initially raised about coaching at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club, we took immediate action by launching an independent investigation which led to this report.
“Respect, inclusion and dignity for everyone who studies and works here is at the heart of our culture.
“We have worked with British Rowing to address the issues raised in the report, including changes to leadership and coaching and the new, progressive structures now in place at the club.”
The investigation started after a photograph of a so-called “hardness sheet” circulated on-line.
It included feedback subsequent to the sailors' names, together with “put the pie down”, “get a haircut” and “watching you row is like watching paint dry”.
After the sheet was leaked, an unverified WhatsApp message from a senior boat membership member referencing the “toughness sheet” was seen by the BBC.
It requested anybody to “consent” to posting a photograph of it on-line, in any other case they’d be “tracked down.”
In December 2024Oxford Brookes University introduced that an investigation would take a look at habits and tradition on the membership.
Heather stated she feels that strategies comparable to “toughness sheets” will not be efficient in coaching athletes, and that “success and well-being should come hand in hand”.
Oxford Brookes is residence to one of many UK's prime rowing programmes, with eight members of its boat membership chosen to characterize Team GB on the Paris Olympics.
British Rowing stated it “worked closely with and supported Oxford Brookes University as it implemented recommendations identified through its independent investigation into coaching practices at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club.”
With inputs from BBC