Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Soerensen, who is being investigated by Canada’s Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner over an alleged sexual assault in 2012, says he and his ice dancing partner Laurence Fournier Beaudry will not compete in the national championships in Calgary this weekend.
They are the reigning national ice dancing champions and placed ninth at the 2022 Olympics.
“I am aware of the allegations made against me,” wrote Sörensen, 34, in an Instagram post on Tuesday. “These allegations are false and I intend to vigorously defend myself and my reputation.”
“Laurence and I have made the difficult decision not to attend the national championships in Calgary this week. Although we do not wish to withdraw, we feel that our participation would be distracting.”
Fournier Beaudry noted in a separate Instagram post that the sexual assault allegations represent a “very challenging situation.”
“While I firmly believe that everyone needs to be protected and safe in sport,” the 31-year-old from Montreal wrote, “I know that my partner is a man of integrity, respect and kindness.”
In a statement sent to CBC Sports on Tuesday, Skate Canada said it is “complying with all interim measures imposed by Abuse-Free Sport’s Director of Sanctions and Results (DSO) in this matter.”
“It is also important to note that there is an ongoing investigative process that is subject to confidentiality requirements,” Skate Canada communications director Karine Bedard told CBC Sports.
Citing a received report to OSIC and the US Center for SafeSport, USA Today reported this week that an American figure skating coach and former figure skater filed a report about the alleged assault in Hartford, Connecticut.
The allegation was not examined in court.
CBC Sports has not independently confirmed the report.
Soerensen competed for his native Denmark until moving to Canada in 2018.
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