‘Should never have happened’: athletics bodies confront pole vault coach scandal
West Australian Institute of Sport holds snap press conference to apologise to the athletes harmed by former Olympic pole vault coach Alex Parnov as police assess ‘potential criminal conduct’.
WA Police are assessing “potential criminal conduct” involving former Olympic pole-vault coach Alex Parnov in the wake of revelations by The Weekend Australian that he groomed, propositioned, sexually harassed and inappropriately touched multiple young female athletes in his care.
Australia’s top sporting bodies are scrambling to deal with allegations the celebrated pole-vaulting coach was engaged in a pattern of predatory behaviour that was ignored and then kept secret by the West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) for more than 15 years.
Olympic champions Nina Kennedy and Steve Hooker spoke out about the culture of “harm” and abuse and sporting authorities’ lack of response.
On Saturday WAIS apologised to athletes harmed by Parnov and acknowledged the courage of those who spoke to The Weekend Australian about his conduct.
At a snap press conference outside the WAIS headquarters in Perth, chairman Neale Fong said these were “terrible events that should never have occurred”.
Dr Fong said WAIS believed the previous board “probably” did not act appropriately in its response to Parnov. A new board installed in late 2023 had instigated a “desktop analytical review” that includes what the organisation knew, when and what it did about it, he said.
Athletics Australia said it had asked Sport Integrity Australia to support a review of their sport’s handling of “how Athletics Australia acted during the period Mr Parnov was coaching in our sport, including how any complaints about his behaviour were managed.”
Federal Minister Annika Wells announced that athletes affected would be offered support under the AIS Mental Health Referral Network.
“These stories are deeply concerning,” Ms Wells said. “What has occurred in the past to some athletes is abhorrent and unacceptable.”
“Sport Integrity Australia will be assessing these disturbing allegations to understand what more can be done to protect athletes.”
The Australian Olympic Committee in a statement said it was “deeply concerned” by the athletes’ accounts.
Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins commended the Parnov victims’ bravery and said he was pushing for a culture change in Australian sport.
“While Australia has a proud history of sporting success, what has happened to some athletes in the past is completely unacceptable,” Perkins said, noting a raft of recent initiatives and funding boosts to better support athletes.
“We are also ensuring that any coach with confirmed complaints against them is not allowed on the AIS Campus at any time, for any reason.
WA Police said it was in contact with Sport Integrity Australia and WAIS and said matters “involving potential criminal conduct” had been brought to their attention.
WA Police said it would not be providing any details on the specifics of what was raised or confirm if investigations had commenced - but said it would support any individual that made a criminal complaint.
“WA Police has maintained contact with Western Australian Institute of Sport and Sport Integrity Australia during their investigation and can confirm that matters involving potential criminal conduct were brought to the attention of WA Police for independent assessment,” a spokeswoman said.
“Given the sensitive nature of this matter in respect to potential victims, WA Police will not be providing any details regarding specific matters raised, or confirmation of any potential investigations that may have commenced.
“WA Police will continue to liaise with representatives of the group of athletes and will support any individual that makes a criminal complaint.”
On Saturday WAIS chairman Neale Fong said the current board was “appalled” by Parnov’s behaviour and acknowledged the “organisation did not do enough to protect them and we are profoundly sorry to those athletes.”
A West Australian police officer had been seconded to work on the review.
Dr Fong said the review had uncovered “a number of historical integrity issues”.
“We are looking into all the issues,” Dr Fong said. “The previous board members, they have to answer for themselves. We are investigating as much as we can the issues that relate to the current situation and if there are people that have done the wrong thing that continue with this organisation then we will be dealing with that.
“It’s not going to be for us to decide whether the previous board acted appropriately. We don’t believe they probably did but others will be asking those questions and some of these issues are now before the police so we will have to wait and see what the police do.”
Dr Fong said WAIS wanted any athletes coached by Parnov to have the opportunity to come forward.
Dr Fong revealed that, separately, WAIS is also in mediation to resolve a complaint from a water polo player relating to events from six or seven years ago.
WAIS is also close to completing a process of “restorative justice” with gymnasts who were mistreated at WAIS.
Following The Weekend Australian’s reports, Athletics Australia CEO Simon Hollingsworth said it had asked Sport Integrity Australia to support a review of their sport’s handling of “how Athletics Australia acted during the period Mr Parnov was coaching in our sport, including how any complaints about his behaviour were managed.”
“Athletics Australia remains committed to continuous improvement in athlete safety and wellbeing and fostering a culture of respect and safety across all areas of the sport. International sporting success and gold medals should never be a higher priority than athlete welfare,” Hollingworth said.
“Athletics Australia acknowledges the highly concerning reports about the conduct of Alex Parnov during his time as a pole vault coach at the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) between 1998 and 2019, as well as the subsequent WAIS responses to complaints that were made.”
“The reports identify patterns of behaviour that are totally unacceptable and deeply distressing, and we are profoundly sorry for the harm that they caused to athletes and staff.”
Hollingworth said the “well-being and safety of all participants in our sport is paramount” and acknowledged the likes of Kennedy, Hooker, Kym Howe and Alana Quade’s “courage” to come forward to “share” their experiences.
“We support those who have spoken up and encourage any others who may have experienced unacceptable behaviours to come forward and speak to us confidentially so that further action can be taken,” he said.
“Upon being informed of the WAIS investigation findings in 2019, Athletics Australia revoked Mr Parnov’s coaching accreditation and imposed a lifetime ban on obtaining re-accreditation, ensuring he could no longer be involved in the sport in Australia. In subsequent years, clear directives were issued by AA to prevent his participation in any athletics-related activity both in Australia and abroad.
“While Mr Parnov was employed by the WAIS, we acknowledge his role as a coach on various Australian teams abroad and the trust that Athletics Australia placed in him. We recognise the significance and importance of robust safeguards and collaboration across the sporting landscape to prevent such conduct from occurring, to protect athletes at every level, and to provide safe avenues to raise concerns.”
He added that AA will continue to work with athletes and coaches, Sport Integrity Australia and Institutes of Sport to ensure that “athletes are protected from harm”.
The Australian Olympic Committee in a statement said it was “deeply concerned” by the athletes’ accounts.
“The AOC is deeply concerned by the content of the report,” an AOC spokesperson said.
“The welfare of athletes is and will continue to be our greatest priority.
“The AOC, along with the community broadly, has an expectation that the people who surround an athlete should conduct themselves to the highest standard of integrity. Anything less is totally unacceptable.”
“We encourage any athlete or individual who’s seen or experienced harmful behaviours to feel empowered to come forward and report it.
“Support and reporting services are available through Sport Integrity Australia, the Australian Institute of Sport’s Mental Health Referral Network or a sporting body’s complaints handling mechanisms.”
For help or information call Lifeline 131 114
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